Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Personnel Demonstration Project in the Technical Center of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), 49255-49276 [2019-20329]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49255-49276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20329]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID DOD-2019-OS-0108]


Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Personnel 
Demonstration Project in the Technical Center of the U.S. Army Space 
and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC)

AGENCY: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering 
(USD(R&E)), DoD.

ACTION: Notice of proposal to adopt and modify an existing personnel 
management demonstration project.

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SUMMARY: This Federal Register Notice (FRN) serves as notice of the 
proposed adoption of an existing STRL Personnel Management 
Demonstration Project by the Technical Center, U.S. Army Space and 
Missile Defense Command (USASMDC). The Technical Center proposes to 
adopt, with some modifications, the STRL Personnel Demonstration 
Project implemented at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development 
Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) (previously 
designated as the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and 
Engineering Center).

DATES: The Technical Center's demonstration project proposal may not be 
implemented until a 30-day comment period is provided, comments 
addressed, and a final FRN published. To be considered, written 
comments must be submitted on or before October 21, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Chief Management 
Officer, Directorate for Oversight and Compliance, 4800 Mark Center 
Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
     Technical Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense 
Command

[[Page 49256]]

(USASMDC): Mr. Chad Marshall, 5220 Martin Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 
35898-5000, (256) 955-5697, [email protected].
     DoD: Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati, Director, Laboratories and 
Personnel Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350, (571) 
372-6372, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 342(b) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 1995, Public Law 103-337, 
as amended by section 1109 of the NDAA for FY 2000, Public Law 106-65; 
section 1114 of the NDAA for FY 2001, Public Law 106-398; and section 
211 of the NDAA for FY 2017, Public Law 114.328, authorizes the 
Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), through the USD(R&E) to conduct 
personnel demonstration projects at DoD laboratories designated as 
science and technology reinvention laboratories (STRLs). All STRLs 
authorized by section 1105 of the NDAA for FY 2010, Public Law 111-84, 
as well as any newly designated STRLs authorized by SECDEF or future 
legislation, may use the provisions described in this FRN. STRLs 
implementing this flexibility must have an approved personnel 
management demonstration project plan published in an FRN and will 
fulfill any collective bargaining obligations. Each STRL will establish 
internal operating procedures (IOPs) to provide additional guidance on 
implementation of the FRN.

1. Background

    Many studies conducted since 1966 on the quality of the 
laboratories and personnel have recommended improvements in civilian 
personnel policy, organization, and management. Pursuant to the 
authority provided in section 342(b) of Public Law 103-337, as amended, 
a number of DoD STRL personnel demonstration projects have been 
approved. The demonstration projects are ``generally similar in 
nature'' to the Department of Navy's China Lake Personnel Demonstration 
Project. The terminology ``generally similar in nature'' does not imply 
an emulation of various features, but rather implies a similar 
opportunity and authority to develop personnel flexibilities that 
significantly increase the decision authority of laboratory commanders 
and/or directors.

2. Overview

    The Technical Center will adopt, with some modifications, the STRL 
Personnel Demonstration Project published in 62 FR 34876, June 27, 1997 
and implemented in the CCDC AvMC, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Section 
1105(b) of the FY10 NDAA, as amended by section 1103 of the FY15 NDAA, 
Public Law 113-291, authorizes the Technical Center, USASMDC to 
implement an STRL Personnel Demonstration Project.
    Adoption of CCDC AvMC's STRL Personnel Demonstration Project, with 
modifications, will enable the Technical Center to achieve the best 
workforce for their mission, adjust the workforce for change, improve 
workforce quality, and allow the Technical Center to acquire and retain 
an enthusiastic, innovative, and highly educated and trained workforce, 
particularly scientists and engineers. The purpose of the project is to 
demonstrate that the effectiveness of DoD laboratories can be enhanced 
by allowing greater managerial control over personnel functions and at 
the same time, expand the opportunities available to employees through 
a more responsive and flexible personnel system. Implementation of a 
STRL Personnel Demonstration Project in the Technical Center is 
essential for competitive hiring and retention of a highly qualified 
workforce.

3. Access to Flexibilities of Other STRLs

    Flexibilities published in this FRN will be available for use by 
the STRLs enumerated in section 1105 of the NDAA for FY 2010, Public 
Law 111-84 as amended, if they wish to adopt them in accordance with 
DoD Instruction 1400.37, ``Science and Technology Reinvention 
Laboratory (STRL) Personnel Demonstration Projects'' (available at 
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/140037p.pdf) (and its successor instructions) and after the fulfillment 
of any collective bargaining obligations.

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. Introduction
    A. Purpose
    B. Problems With the Present System
    C. Changes Required/Expected Benefits
    D. Participating Organization
    E. Participating Employees
    F. Labor Participation
    G. Project Design
    H. Personnel Policy Board
    I. Funding Levels
III. Personnel System Changes
    A. Broadbanding
    B. Pay-for-Performance Management System
    C. Classification
    D. Hiring and Appointment Authorities
    E. Employee Development
    F. Staffing Supplement
IV. Training
    A. Supervisors
    B. Administrative Staff
    C. Employees
V. Conversion
    A. Conversion to the Demonstration Project
    B. Conversion or Movement From a Project Position to a General 
Schedule Position
VI. Project Duration
VII. Evaluation Plan
    A. Overview
    B. Evaluation Model
    C. Evaluation
VIII. Demonstration Project Costs
IX. Required Waivers to Laws and Regulations
    A. Title 5, United States Code
    B. Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations
Appendix A: Project Evaluation and Oversight
Appendix B: Performance Elements

I. Executive Summary

    The Technical Center is a subordinate organization of the USASMDC. 
The Technical Center provides technologies to meet today's requirements 
and future needs in directed energy, space, cyberspace, hypersonics, 
and integrated air and missile defense by executing Science and 
Technology (S&T) and Research and Development (R&D) programs within 
core competencies; managing and conducting test programs; managing and 
operating the Reagan Test Site; and conducting space operations and 
space surveillance. To deliver technologies and solutions to enable 
warfighter dominance, the Technical Center must be able to balance 
customer requirements for near-term technical and scientific products 
and information with the evolving capabilities of the workforce. These 
missions will be significantly enhanced by personnel management changes 
or flexibilities, to include funded education programs for degrees 
related to mission areas; modified term appointment authorities such as 
contingent employee, flexible length and renewable term authorities; 
and establishment of Senior Scientific Technical Manager (SSTM) 
positions.
    This project adopts, with some modifications, the STRL personnel 
demonstration project designed by the CCDC AvMC, with participation and 
review by the Department of the Army (DA) and DoD. The foundations of 
this project are based on the concept of linking performance to pay for 
all covered positions; simplifying paperwork and the processing of 
classification and other personnel actions; emphasizing partnerships 
among management, employees, and the Union; and delegating 
classification and other authorities to line managers. Additionally, 
the intellectual capital of the Technical Center workforce will be 
revitalized through the use of expanded opportunities for employee 
development. These opportunities will reinvigorate the creative 
intellect of the research and development community.

[[Page 49257]]

    The Director of the Technical Center at USASMDC will execute and 
manage the project. Project oversight within the DA will be achieved by 
an executive steering committee made up of top-level executives, co-
chaired by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and 
Technology and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civilian 
Personnel Policy)/Director, Civilian Personnel. Oversight external to 
the Army will be provided by DoD.

II. Introduction

A. Purpose

    The purpose of the project is to demonstrate that the effectiveness 
of DoD laboratories can be enhanced by allowing greater managerial 
control over personnel functions and, at the same time, expanding the 
opportunities available to employees through a more responsive and 
flexible personnel system. The quality of DoD laboratories, their 
people, and products has been under intense scrutiny in recent years. 
This perceived deterioration of quality is due, in substantial part, to 
the erosion of control, which line managers have over their human 
resources. This demonstration, in its entirety, attempts to provide 
managers, at the lowest practical level, the authority, control, and 
flexibility needed to achieve quality laboratories and quality 
products.

B. Problems With the Present System

    The Technical Center's technology programs/products contribute to 
the readiness of U.S. forces and to the stability of the American 
economy. To complete its mission, the Technical Center must acquire and 
retain an enthusiastic, innovative, and highly educated and trained 
workforce, particularly scientists and engineers. The Technical Center 
must be able to compete with the private sector and other government 
agencies for the best talent and be able to make job offers in a timely 
manner with the attendant monetary compensation and incentives to 
attract high quality employees. The Technical Center must compete for 
high quality scientists and engineers with (1) the CCDC AvMC, an STRL 
established in 1997, (2) the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and (3) the 
private sector within the second largest Research Park in the United 
States. Today, industry laboratories can make an offer of employment to 
a promising new hire before the Technical Center can prepare the 
paperwork necessary to begin the recruitment process.
    The current personnel system does not enhance the Technical Center 
Director's capability to achieve the full flexibility of a DoD STRL. 
The DoD STRL Laboratory Personnel Demonstration Project provides more 
authority and flexibilities needed by the Technical Center. The DoD 
STRL's strategic objectives are supported by recent legislative 
initiatives and published FRNs. These tenets include changing 
procedures involving personnel management, research related 
contracting, and facilities refurbishment; and enhancing the STRL 
director's management authority. Managers must be given local control 
of positions and classifications to enable movement of positions to 
other lines of the business activity within the STRL to match supported 
customers' needs, including needs stemming from weapon system life 
cycles. In addition, Technical Center managers must be provided with 
additional tools to timely reward and motivate employees.

C. Changes Required/Expected Benefits

    This project is expected to demonstrate that a human resource 
system tailored to the mission and needs of the Technical Center will 
result in: (a) Increased timeliness of key personnel processes; (b) 
increased retention rates of high quality employees and separation 
rates of poor quality employees; and (c) increased customer 
satisfaction with the Technical Center and its products by all 
customers it serves. The primary benefit expected from this 
demonstration project is greater organizational effectiveness.
    The Technical Center will adopt, with some modifications, the 
demonstration project designed and implemented by the CCDC AvMC. The 
CCDC AvMC demonstration program was based on successful features of the 
China Lake demonstration project and the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) project. The CCDC AvMC payband 
structure is modified, however to improve personnel recruitment and 
retention and preserve the same pay structure for clerical and 
administrative employees across the entire USASMDC. The Engineers & 
Scientists Occupational Family (DB) is modified slightly for payband 
III to extend the cap to $10,000 above the GS-13, step 10 salary.
    The STRL demonstration projects have produced impressive statistics 
for on-the-job satisfaction for their employees versus that for the 
federal workforce in general. The Technical Center's success is 
dependent on its total workforce. The new authorities will provide 
additional management tools that will enable the Technical Center to 
attract and retain the best and brightest employees. Therefore, in 
addition to expected benefits mentioned above, the Technical Center 
demonstration project expects to find increased employee satisfaction 
due to many aspects of the project, including pay equity, timely 
classification decisions, and enhanced career development 
opportunities. A full range of measures will be collected during the 
project evaluation described in Section VII.

D. Participating Organization

    The Technical Center is comprised of employees located mainly at 
Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, with the remaining employees located at 
sites at Albuquerque and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; 
Washington, DC; and U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of Marshall 
Islands. The SMDC Technical Center's successor organizations, if any, 
will continue to be covered by this demonstration project.

E. Participating Employees

    The demonstration project includes civilian appropriated fund 
employees in the competitive and excepted service, and will cover 
approximately 150 Technical Center civilian employees, unless otherwise 
excluded. Senior Executive Service (SES) members, Senior Leader/
Scientific and Professional (SL/ST) employees, Federal Wage Grade (FWS) 
employees, and Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) 
positions will not be covered in the demonstration project. 
Additionally, DA interns will not be converted to the demonstration 
project until completion of the intern program. Personnel added to the 
Technical Center after implementation, in like positions covered by the 
demonstration (through appointment, promotion, reassignment, 
realignment, change to a lower grade, or where their functions and 
positions have been transferred into the Technical Center) will be 
converted to the demonstration project in accordance with this FRN, 
Section V. Conversion. Successor organizations will continue coverage 
in the demonstration project.

F. Labor Participation

    The Technical Center began negotiations with American Federation of 
Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1858 Union officials in the second 
quarter, FY 2016, concerning this demonstration project's development. 
AFGE Local 1858 represents professional and non-professional bargaining 
unit employees in the Technical Center. Negotiations with AFGE Local 
1858 influenced this demonstration project's design in areas of 
significant concern to bargaining unit employees. The Technical Center 
will

[[Page 49258]]

continue to fulfill its obligations to consult and/or negotiate with 
AFGE, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4703(f) and 7117, and applicable 
Executive Orders, in implementing the demonstration project. The Union 
is an integral part of this STRL personnel demonstration project, and 
will be a full partner in its implementation.

G. Project Design

    The Technical Center engaged the Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Personnel (G1), Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management (G8), 
Office of Command Counsel and Staff Judge Advocate, AFGE Local 1858, 
and senior managers in the USASMDC to consider the attributes developed 
by and currently in use at the CCDC AvMC STRL personnel demonstration 
project. An Integrated Process Team approach was used to review these 
attributes. The team was led by management, and the team members were 
managers and associates from the Technical Center, AFGE Local 1858, 
other major functional organizations within the command and the CCDC 
AvMC.
    This personnel system design was subject to critical reviews at the 
executive level within the command. The Technical Center reviewed 
broadbanding systems currently practiced in the Federal sector. 
Technical Center management conferred with AFGE Local 1858 to obtain 
agreement for a partnership to pursue a demonstration project like the 
CCDC AvMC's. Initial concept designs for this demonstration project 
received critical reviews by headquarters elements of DA and DoD. AFGE 
Local 1858 endorsed a partnership in pursuit of a STRL demonstration 
project, as long as it is similar in nature to the demonstration 
project currently implemented in the CCDC AvMC.

H. Personnel Policy Board

    The Technical Center intends to establish an appropriate balance 
between the personnel management authority of supervisors and the 
demonstration project oversight responsibilities of a Personnel Policy 
Board (PPB). The Technical Center Director will delegate the 
demonstration project's management and oversight to a PPB whose 
members, Chairperson, and Staff (other than union representatives) will 
be appointed by the Director. The Union will have permanent membership 
in the PPB and will select its representatives. The Union will only 
participate in matters impacting bargaining unit employees. The PPB's 
establishment will not affect the authority of any management official 
in the exercise of the management rights set forth in 5 U.S.C. 7106. 
The PPB will be tasked with the following:
    1. Overseeing the civilian pay budget.
    2. Determining the composition of the pay-for-performance pay pools 
in accordance with the guidelines of this FRN and internal procedures.
    3. Allocating funds to pay pool managers.
    4. Reviewing operation of the Technical Center pay pools.
    5. Reviewing hiring and promotion compensation, to include 
exceptions to pay-for-performance salary increases.
    6. Providing guidance to pay pool managers.
    7. Monitoring award pool distribution.
    8. Selecting participants for the Expanded Developmental 
Opportunity Program, long term training, and any special developmental 
assignments.
    9. Ensuring in-house budget discipline.
    10. Assessing the need for changes to demonstration project 
procedures and policies.
    11. Adjudicating requests for retention pay, to include requests to 
adjust individual employee pay setting to avoid unintended pay loss due 
to conversion to the demonstration project.

I. Funding Levels

    The Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), may, at 
his/her discretion, adjust the minimum funding levels of performance 
pay pools to take into account factors such as the Department's fiscal 
condition, guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, and 
equity in circumstances when funding is reduced or eliminated for GS 
pay raises or awards.

III. Personnel System Changes

A. Broadbanding

1. Occupational Families
    Occupations at the Technical Center will be grouped into 
occupational families. Occupations will be grouped according to 
similarities in type of work, customary requirements for formal 
training or credentials, and in consideration of the business practices 
at the Technical Center. Common patterns of advancement within the 
Technical Center's occupations, as practiced at DoD Laboratories and in 
the private sector, will also be considered. The Technical Center's 
current occupations and grades have been examined, and their 
characteristics and distribution were utilized as guidelines in 
developing the three occupational families described below:
    a. Engineers and Scientists (E&S). This occupational family 
includes all technical professional positions, such as engineers, 
physicists, chemists, metallurgists, mathematicians, operations 
research analysts, and computer scientists. Specific course work or 
educational degrees are generally required for these occupations.
    b. Technical and Business Support. This occupational family 
contains positions that directly support the E&S mission; it includes 
specialized functions in fields such as technical information 
management, equipment specialists, quality assurance, engineering and 
electronics technicians, finance, accounting, general administrative, 
business and industry specialists, and management analysis. Employees 
in these jobs may or may not require specific course work or 
educational degrees. Analytical abilities and specialized knowledge in 
administrative fields are required for these positions. Knowledge of, 
and training in, various electrical, mechanical, chemical, or computer 
principles, methods, and techniques, as applicable to the specific 
positions, are also generally required.
    c. General Support. This occupational family is composed of 
positions for which minimal formal education is needed, but for which 
special skills, such as office automation, are usually required. This 
occupational family includes: Clerical work, that usually involves 
processing and maintaining records; and assistant work, that requires 
knowledge of methods and procedures within a specific administrative 
area. Other support functions include secretarial work and other 
clerical support.
2. Paybands
    Each occupational family will be composed of discrete paybands 
(levels) corresponding to recognized advancement within the 
occupations. These paybands will replace grades used under the GS 
system, and will not be the same for all occupational families. Each 
occupational family will be divided into four to five paybands; each 
payband will encompass one or more of the corresponding grades under 
the GS system. A salary overlap will be maintained, similar to the 
current overlap between GS grades.
    Exceptional qualifications, specific organizational requirements, 
or other compelling reasons may lead an employee to enter a payband at 
a higher level.
    The proposed paybands for the occupational families and how they 
relate to the current GS grades are shown in Figure 1. Application of 
the

[[Page 49259]]

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) within each payband is also shown in 
Figure 1. This payband concept has the following advantages:
    1. It may reduce the number of classification decisions required 
during an employee's career.
    2. It simplifies the classification decision-making process and 
paperwork. A payband covers a larger scope of work than a grade under 
the GS system, and will be defined in shorter and simpler language.
    3. It supports delegation of classification authority to line 
managers.
    4. It provides a broader range of performance-related pay for each 
level. In many cases, employees whose pay would have been frozen at the 
top step of a GS system grade will now have more potential for upward 
movement in the broader payband.
    5. It prevents the progression of low performers through a payband 
by mere longevity, since job performance serves as the basis for 
determining pay.
    The Technical Center will modify the CCDC AvMC flexibility 
establishing and implementing the concept of Payband V of the Engineers 
and Scientists occupational family. The CCDC AvMC paybanding plan 
expanded the paybanding concept used at China Lake and NIST by creating 
Payband V of the Engineers and Scientists (E&S) occupational family. 
This payband pertains to SSTMs who engage in research and development 
in the physical, biological, medical or engineering sciences, or 
another field closely related to the mission of the Technical Center 
and carry out technical supervisory responsibilities. SSTM positions 
may be filled using the authority in 10 U.S.C. 2358a. The number of 
such positions may not exceed two percent of the number of scientists 
and engineers employed at the Technical Center as of the close of the 
last fiscal year before the fiscal year in which any appointments 
subject to the numerical limitation are made.
    The SSTM program will be managed and administered by the Technical 
Center Director. The Technical Center will review its positions 
classified at the GS-15 or equivalent level to determine those that may 
warrant classification above GS-15 equivalency. Panels will be created 
to assist in filling SSTM positions. Panel members will be selected 
from a pool of current Technical Center SES members, and later those in 
SSTM positions, and an equal number of individuals of equivalent 
stature from outside the laboratory to ensure impartiality, breadth of 
technical expertise, and a rigorous and demanding review. The panel 
will apply criteria developed largely from the current Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) Research Grade Evaluation Guide for 
positions exceeding the GS-15 level. Vacant SSTM positions will be 
competitively filled to ensure that selectees are preeminent 
researchers and technical leaders in the specialty fields who also 
possess substantial managerial and supervisory abilities.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN19SE19.022

3. Fair Labor Standards Act
    FLSA exempt and nonexempt determinations will be made consistent 
with criteria found in 5 CFR part 551. There are five paybands (see 
Figure 1) where employees can be either exempt or nonexempt from 
overtime provisions. For these five paybands supervisors with 
classification authority will make the determinations on a case-by-case 
basis by comparing the duties and responsibilities assigned, the 
classification standards for each payband, and the FLSA criteria under 
5 CFR part 551. As needed, the advice and assistance of the servicing 
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) will be obtained in making 
determinations as part of the performance review process. The benchmark 
position descriptions will not be the sole basis for the determination, 
and the basis for an FLSA exemption determination will be documented 
and attached to each description. Exemption criteria will be narrowly 
construed and applied only to those employees who clearly meet the 
spirit of the exemption. Changes will be documented and provided to the 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1) and CPAC, as appropriate.
4. Simplified Assignment Process
    Today's environment of downsizing and workforce transition mandates 
that the Technical Center have increased flexibility to assign 
employees. Broadbanding can be used to address this need. As a result 
of the assignment to a particular level descriptor, the organization 
will have increased flexibility to assign an employee, without pay 
change, within broad descriptions consistent with the organization's 
needs and the individual's qualifications and rank or level. Subsequent 
assignments to projects, tasks, or functions anywhere within the 
organization requiring the same level, area of expertise, and 
qualifications would not constitute an assignment outside the scope or 
coverage of the individual's current level descriptor.
    Such assignments within the coverage of the generic descriptors are 
accomplished without the need to

[[Page 49260]]

process a personnel action. For instance, a technical expert can be 
assigned to any project, task, or function requiring similar technical 
expertise. Likewise, a manager could be assigned to manage any similar 
function or organization consistent with that individual's 
qualifications. This flexibility allows broader latitude in assignments 
and further streamlines the administrative process and system.
5. Promotion
    A promotion is an action to move an employee to either a higher 
payband in the same occupational family, or a payband in another 
occupational family in combination with an increase in the employee's 
salary. Positions with known promotion potential to a specific band 
within an occupational family will be identified when they are filled. 
Not all positions in an occupational family will have promotion 
potential to the same band. Movement from one occupational family to 
another will depend upon individual knowledge, skills, abilities, and 
the organization's needs.
    Promotions will be processed under competitive procedures in 
accordance with merit principles and requirements and the local merit 
promotion plan. The following actions are excepted from competitive 
procedures:
    (a) Re-promotion to a position which is in the same payband and 
occupational family as the employee previously held on a permanent 
basis within the competitive service.
    (b) Promotion, reassignment, demotion, transfer, or reinstatement 
to a position having promotion potential no greater than the potential 
of a position an employee currently holds or previously held on a 
permanent basis in the competitive service.
    (c) A position change permitted by reduction in force procedures.
    (d) Promotion without current competition when the employee was 
appointed through competitive procedures to a position with a 
documented career ladder.
    (e) A temporary promotion, or detail to a position in a higher 
payband, of 180 days or less.
    (f) A promotion based on reclassification of positions, to include 
reclassification based on an incumbent's personal qualifications after 
application of the Research Grade Evaluation Guide, the Equipment 
Development Grade Evaluation Guide, Part III, or similar guides.
    (g) A promotion resulting from the correction of an initial 
classification error or the issuance of a new classification standard.
    (h) Consideration of a candidate not given proper consideration in 
a competitive promotion action.
6. Link Between Promotion and Performance
    a. Career ladder promotions and promotions resulting from the 
addition of duties and responsibilities are examples of promotions that 
can be made noncompetitively. To be promoted noncompetitively from one 
band to the next, an employee must meet the minimum qualifications for 
the job and have a current performance rating of B or better (see 
Performance Evaluation) or equivalent under a different performance 
management system.
    b. Selection of employees through competitive procedures will 
require a current performance rating of B or better for internal 
Technical Center recruitment.

B. Pay-for-Performance Management System

1. Overview
    The performance evaluation system will link compensation to 
performance through annual performance appraisals and performance 
scores. The performance evaluation system will allow optional use of 
peer evaluation and/or input from subordinates as determined 
appropriate by the PPB. The system will have the flexibility to be 
modified, if necessary, as more experience is gained under the project. 
A performance evaluation will consist of three meetings held between an 
employee and the supervisor during the performance cycle: The initial 
meeting (to establish performance objectives and performance elements), 
the midpoint meeting (a progress review), and the performance appraisal 
(a performance review and evaluation feedback meeting). The performance 
rating cycle will be October 1 through September 30.
2. Performance Objectives
    Performance objectives are statements of job responsibilities based 
on the work unit's mission, goals, and supplemental benchmark position 
descriptions. Employees and supervisors will jointly develop 
performance objectives which will reflect the types of duties and 
responsibilities expected at the respective pay level. In case of 
disagreements, the supervisor's decision will prevail. Performance 
objectives deal with outputs and outcomes of a particular job. The 
performance objectives should be in place within 30 days from the 
beginning of each rating period.
3. Performance Elements
    Performance elements are generic job performance attributes, such 
as technical competence, that an employee exhibits in performing job 
responsibilities and associated performance objectives. The new 
performance evaluation system will be based on critical and non-
critical performance elements defined in Appendix B. Each performance 
element is assigned a weight within a specified range. The total weight 
of all elements is 100 points. The supervisor assigns each element some 
portion of the 100 points in accordance with its importance for mission 
attainment. As a general rule, essentially identical positions will 
have the same critical elements and the same weight. These weights will 
be developed along with employee performance objectives.
4. Midpoint Review
    A midpoint review between a supervisor and employee will be held to 
determine whether objectives are being met and whether ratings on 
performance elements are above an unsatisfactory level. Performance 
objectives should be modified as necessary to reflect changes in 
planning, workload, and resource allocation. The weights assigned to 
performance elements may be changed during the midpoint review. 
Additional reviews may be held to provide periodic feedback to the 
employee on level of performance. If, at any point in the rating cycle, 
the supervisor determines that the employee is not performing at an 
acceptable level on one or more elements, the supervisor must alert the 
employee and document the problem(s).
5. Employee Feedback to Supervisors
    Opportunity for employee feedback to supervisors is a critical 
component of this demonstration project. A voluntary feedback process 
will be developed and implemented within six months after 
implementation of the demonstration. Employee feedback will be for the 
supervisors' information only, and will not be a factor in determining 
the supervisor's annual ratings of record.
6. Performance Appraisal Process
    A performance appraisal process will begin the final weeks of the 
annual performance cycle, although an individual performance appraisal 
may be conducted at any time after the minimum appraisal period of 120 
days. The performance appraisal process brings supervisors and 
employees together to discuss employee performance and results prior to 
assigning the employee a rating of record. If the employee is 
unavailable

[[Page 49261]]

for a meeting, the supervisor will document the reasons and provide a 
written assessment of performance to the employee.
7. Performance Review
    A supervisor will meet with the employee to discuss job performance 
and accomplishments. The supervisor will notify the employee of the 
review meeting and allow reasonable time for the employee to prepare a 
list of accomplishments. Employees will have an opportunity at the 
meeting to provide a personal performance assessment and describe 
accomplishments. The supervisor and employee will discuss job 
performance and accomplishments in relation to performance objectives 
and performance elements. Supervisors will not assign performance 
scores or performance ratings at this meeting.
8. Evaluation Feedback
    In a meeting with the employee, the supervisor will inform the 
employee of management's appraisal of the employee's performance on 
performance objectives, and the employee's performance score and rating 
on performance elements. During this meeting, the supervisor and 
employee will also discuss and document performance objectives for the 
next rating period.
9. Performance Scores
    The overall performance score is the sum of individual performance 
element scores. Employees will receive an academic-type rating of A, B, 
C, D, or U depending upon the score attained. These summary ratings are 
representative of pattern H (a five-level system) in the summary level 
chart in 5 CFR 430.208(d)(1). This rating will become the rating of 
record, and only those employees rated D or higher will receive 
performance pay increases (i.e., basic pay increases), and/or 
performance bonuses. A rating of an A will be assigned for scores from 
90 to 100 points, B-High for scores from 85 to 89 points, B-Low for 
scores 80 to 84 points, C for scores from 70 to 79 points, D for scores 
50-69 points, and U for scores below 50 points, or a failure to achieve 
at the 50 percent level of any critical element. The academic-type 
ratings will be used to determine performance payouts as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Rating (score)              Summary level       Compensation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (90-100)......................  5--Exceptional....  4.0 shares.
B (High; 85-89).................  4--Highly           3.5 shares.
                                   Successful.
B (Low; 80-84)..................  4--Highly           3.0 shares.
                                   Successful.
C (70-79).......................  3--Fully            2.0 shares.
                                   Successful.
D (50-69).......................  2--Marginally       1.0 share.
                                   Successful.
U (0-49)........................  1--Unsatisfactory.  N/A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Benchmark performance standards will be used to assist in selecting 
the weighted points to assign to an employee's performance on each of 
the performance elements. These benchmark performance standards, 
published in the IOP, will be modified versions of the performance 
standards used by CCDC AvMC (62 FR 34902). Each benchmark performance 
standard will describe the level of performance associated with a 
particular point on a rating scale. Supervisors may add supplemental 
standards for employees they supervise to further elaborate the 
benchmark performance standards.
10. Performance-Based Actions
    The Technical Center Director or designee will implement a process 
to rehabilitate, reduce, or remove poor performers. The process may 
start at any time during the rating period and may lead to involuntary 
separation. The process will begin when the supervisor identifies one 
or more deficiencies that cause the level of performance to be at the U 
(unsatisfactory) level based on a composite score that is less than 50 
for all elements or a score on any critical element of less than 50 
percent.
    When the employee's performance is determined to be unsatisfactory 
at the close of the annual rating period, the Unsatisfactory (U) rating 
will become the rating of record for all matters relating to pay or 
Reduction-in-Force (RIF). The process to address poor performance will 
be described in the IOP.
    The Technical Center Director will preserve all relevant 
documentation which serves as the basis for an employment action 
related to poor performance and will make it available for review by 
the affected employee or the employee's designated representative. At a 
minimum, the record will consist of a notice of proposed action; the 
employee's written reply, if provided, or a summary if the employee 
makes an oral reply; the written notice of decision; evidence regarding 
the opportunity afforded the employee to demonstrate improved 
performance; and any other material considered by the decision maker.
11. Adverse Actions
    The Technical Center Director may take an adverse employment action 
against an employee covered by the project only for such cause as will 
promote the efficiency of the project. An employee against whom an 
action is proposed will be provided at least 30 days advanced written 
notice and a reasonable time, but not less than 7 days, to respond. An 
employee against whom an action is proposed will be afforded the same 
procedural and appeal rights provided to non-covered employees by 5 
U.S.C. chapter 75 and related OPM regulations.
12. Awards
    The Technical Center currently has an extensive awards program 
consisting of both internal and external awards. On-the-spot, special 
act (which are both performance related and nonperformance related), 
and other internal awards (both monetary and nonmonetary) will continue 
under the project, and may be modified or expanded as appropriate. DA 
and DoD awards and other honorary non-cash awards will be retained.
    The Technical Center Director will have the authority to grant 
awards of up to $10,000 to covered employees for a special act. The 
scale of the award will be determined using criteria in applicable DA 
regulations.
13. Pay Administration
    The objective is to establish a pay system that will improve the 
Technical Center's ability to attract and retain quality employees. The 
new system will be a pay-for-performance system and, when implemented, 
will result in a redistribution of pay resources based upon individual 
performance. The performance rating cycle in the Technical Center will 
be October 1 through September 30, although the first cycle may be 
shortened based on actual implementation date. The first performance 
payout will be made effective with the first full pay period of 
calendar year (CY) 2020 (January 2020).

[[Page 49262]]

Future pay adjustments will be effective at the beginning of the first 
full pay period of subsequent calendar years. General Pay Increases 
(GPI) and locality pay adjustments will be provided to all covered 
employees on the same basis as they are provided to GS employees.
14. Pay-for-Performance
    The Technical Center will use a simplified performance appraisal 
system that will permit both the supervisor and the employee to focus 
on quality of the work. The proposed system will permit the manager/
supervisor to base incentive pay increases entirely on performance or 
value added to the organization's goals. This system will allow 
managers to withhold pay increases from nonperformers, thereby giving 
the nonperformer the incentive to improve performance or leave 
government service. For example, employees with ratings of U will 
receive no performance pay increase or performance bonus, but will 
receive GPI.
    Pay for performance has two components: Performance pay increases 
and/or performance bonuses. The basic rates of pay used in computing 
the pay pool and performance payouts exclude locality pay. Locality pay 
will be added to the performance pay increases and/or performance 
bonuses after calculations are completed. All covered employees will be 
given the full amount of locality pay adjustments. Employees receiving 
retained rates will receive a pay increase in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
5363. The funding for performance pay increases and/or performance 
bonuses is composed of money previously available for within-grade 
increases, quality step increases, promotions from one grade to another 
where both grades are now in the same payband, and for some performance 
awards. Additionally, funds will be obtained from performance pay 
increases withheld for poor performance (see Performance Evaluation).
15. Performance Pay Pool
    The performance pay pool is composed of a base pay fund and a bonus 
pay fund. The payouts made to employees from the performance pay pool 
will be a mix of base pay increases and bonus payments and will be paid 
such that the allocated funds are distributed as intended.
    The funding for the base pay fund is composed of money previously 
available for within-grade increases, quality step increases, and 
promotions between grades that are banded under the demonstration 
project. The bonus pay fund is separately funded within the constraints 
of the organization's overall performance award budget. The final bonus 
pay allocation may be indexed after initial calculations, within the 
constraints of in-house budget discipline, to be competitive with local 
industrial economic demographics such as market bonus percentages. 
Special ad hoc awards--e.g., suggestion awards, or special act awards, 
will be separately funded within the constraints of the Technical 
Center's operating budget and will not be included as part of the 
performance pay pool. The Technical Center will calculate initial 
performance pay pool funds and allocate these funds to pay pool 
managers as appropriate. This pay pool allocation, approved by the 
Technical Center Director, will be determined early in the annual 
performance appraisal cycle.
16. Performance Pay Increases and/or Performance Bonuses
    A pay pool manager is accountable for establishing final pay pool 
funds. The pay pool manager assigns performance pay increases and/or 
performance bonuses to individuals on the basis of an academic-type 
rating, the value of the performance pay pool resources available, and 
the individual's current basic rate of pay within a given payband. A 
pay pool manager may request approval from the PPB or its designee to 
grant a performance pay increase and/or bonus to an employee that is 
higher than the compensation formula for that employee, to recognize 
extraordinary achievement or to provide accelerated compensation for 
local interns. Extraordinary achievement recognition grants a base pay 
increase and/or bonus to an employee that is higher than the one 
generated by the compensation formula for that employee. Any base pay 
increase granted may not cause the employee to exceed the maximum rate 
of pay in the assigned payband. The funds available for extraordinary 
achievement recognition are separately funded within the constraints of 
the organization's budget.
    Performance payouts, for the first year, will be calculated for 
each individual based upon a performance pay pool value that will be 
3.7 percent (e.g., 2.4 percent performance pay + 1.3 percent 
performance bonus) of the combined basic rates of pay of the assigned 
employees. For subsequent years, this percentage, a payout factor, will 
be adjusted as necessary to compensate for changing employee 
demographics which impact the elements used in the GS system, such as 
the amount of step raises, quality step increases, and promotions. For 
subsequent years, the performance bonus pool value will be set at a 
minimum of 1.0 percent of the total Lab Demo Base Salary, or the limit 
set by DA if lower than 1.0 percent. An employee's performance payout 
is computed as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN19SE19.023


[[Page 49263]]


    Once the individual performance payout amounts have been 
determined, the next step is to determine what portion of each payout 
will be in the form of a base pay increase as opposed to a bonus 
payment. A base pay share factor is derived by dividing the amount of 
the base pay fund by the amount of the total performance pay pool. This 
factor is multiplied by the individual performance payout amounts to 
derive each individual's projected base pay increase. Certain employees 
will not be able to receive the projected base pay increase due to base 
pay caps. Base pay is capped when an employee reaches the maximum rate 
of pay in an assigned payband, when the midpoint principle applies (see 
below), and when the 50 percent rule applies (see below). Also, for 
employees receiving retained rates above the applicable payband 
maximum, the entire performance payout will be in the form of a bonus 
payment.
    If the Technical Center Director determines it is appropriate, the 
Director may reallocate a portion (up to the maximum possible amount) 
of the unexpended base pay funds for employees not eligible for base 
pay increases (capped) to employees who are eligible for base pay 
increases (uncapped). This reallocation must be made on a proportional 
basis so that all uncapped employees receive the same percentage 
increase in their base pay share (unless the reallocation adjustment is 
limited by a pay cap). Any dollar increase in an employee's projected 
base pay increase will be offset, dollar for dollar, by an accompanying 
reduction in the employee's projected bonus payment. Thus, the 
employee's initial total performance payout is unchanged.
    A midpoint principle will be used to determine performance pay 
increases. This principle requires that employees in all paybands must 
receive a C rating or higher to advance their basic rate of pay beyond 
the midpoint dollar threshold (the actual midpoint dollar amount 
between the top and bottom of the payband) of their respective 
paybands. If the performance payout formula yields a basic pay increase 
for a D-rated employee that would increase their basic rate of pay 
beyond the midpoint dollar threshold, then their basic rate of pay will 
be adjusted to the midpoint dollar threshold and the balance converted 
to a performance bonus. Once an employee has progressed beyond the 
midpoint dollar threshold, future performance pay increases will 
require a C rating or greater. If an employee attains a D rating and is 
beyond the midpoint dollar threshold, incentive pay increases will be 
restricted to performance bonuses only.
    Annual performance pay increases will be limited to (1) 50 percent 
of the difference between the particular maximum band rate and the 
employee's current basic rate of pay, or (2) the projected performance 
pay increase, whichever is less, with the balance converted to a 
performance bonus. This rule will not apply when an employee's current 
basic rate of pay is within $500 of the maximum band rate. This means 
that employees whose pay has reached the upper limits of a particular 
payband will receive most performance incentives as a performance 
bonus. Performance bonuses are cash payments and are not part of the 
basic pay for any purpose (e.g., lump sum payments of annual leave on 
separation, life insurance, and retirement).
17. Supervisory Pay Adjustments
    Supervisory pay adjustments may be used at the discretion of the 
Technical Center Director, to compensate employees assuming positions 
entailing supervisory responsibilities. Supervisory pay adjustments are 
increases to the supervisor's basic rate of pay, ranging up to 10 
percent of that pay rate, subject to the constraint that the adjustment 
may not cause the employee's basic rate of pay to exceed the payband 
maximum rate. Only employees in supervisory positions with formal 
supervisory authority, as defined in the OPM GS Supervisory Guide, may 
be considered for the supervisory pay adjustment. Criteria to be 
considered in determining the pay increase percentage include the 
following organizational and individual employee factors:
    (1) Needs of the organization to attract, retain, and motivate high 
quality supervisors;
    (2) Budgetary constraints;
    (3) Years of supervisory experience;
    (4) Amount of supervisory training received;
    (5) Performance appraisals and experience as a group or team 
leader;
    (6) Their organizational level of supervision; and
    (7) Managerial impact on the organization.
    Conditions, after the date of conversion into the demonstration 
project, under which the application of a supervisory pay adjustment 
may be considered are as follows:
    (1) New hires into supervisory positions will have their initial 
rate of basic pay set at the supervisor's discretion within the pay 
range of the applicable payband. This rate of pay may include a 
supervisory pay adjustment determined using the ranges and criteria 
outlined above.
    (2) A career employee selected for a supervisory position that is 
within the employee's current payband may also be considered for a 
supervisory pay adjustment. If a supervisor is already authorized a 
supervisory pay adjustment and is subsequently selected for another 
supervisory position, within the same payband, then the supervisory pay 
adjustment will be re-determined.
    Within the demonstration project rating system, the performance 
element ``Supervision/EEO'' is identified as a critical element. 
Changes in the rating value for this element awarded to a supervisor 
with a supervisory pay adjustment may generate a review of the 
adjustment and may result in an increase or decrease to that 
adjustment. Decrease to a supervisory pay adjustment is not an adverse 
action if this action results from changes in supervisory duties or 
supervisory ratings.
    Upon initial conversion into the demonstration project, a 
supervisor converting into the same or substantially similar position, 
will be converted at the existing basic rate of pay and will not be 
offered a supervisory pay adjustment. Supervisory adjustments will not 
be funded from performance pay pools.
    The supervisory adjustment will cease when an employee leaves a 
supervisory position. The cancellation of the adjustment is not an 
adverse action and is not appealable. If an employee is involuntarily 
removed from a supervisory position for cause, the removal action will 
be conducted using adverse action procedures, and the employee may 
request the PPB approve pay retention as part of that process.
18. Supervisory Pay Differentials
    A supervisory pay differential is a cash incentive that may range 
up to 10 percent of the supervisor's basic rate of pay. It is paid on a 
pay period basis and is not included as part of the supervisor's basic 
rate of pay. Criteria to be considered in determining the amount of 
this supervisory pay differential includes those identified for 
Supervisory Pay Adjustments. For SSTM personnel, this incentive may 
range up to five percent of base pay (excluding locality pay). The SSTM 
supervisory pay differential is paid on a pay period basis with a 
specified not-to-exceed date up to one year and may be renewed as 
appropriate.
    The supervisory pay differential may be considered, either during 
conversion into or after initiation of the demonstration project. The 
differential

[[Page 49264]]

must be terminated if the employee is removed from a supervisory 
position, regardless of cause, or no longer meets established 
eligibility criteria. Supervisory differentials will not be funded from 
performance pay pools.
    All personnel actions involving a supervisory differential will 
require a statement signed by the employee acknowledging that the 
differential may be terminated or reduced at the Technical Center 
Director's discretion. The termination or reduction of the supervisory 
differential is not an adverse action and is not subject to appeal.
19. Distinguished Contribution Allowance (DCA)
    The Technical Center needs increased capability to recognize and 
incentivize employees who are (a) consistently extremely high level 
performers and (b) paid at the top of their payband level. Eligibility 
for the Technical Center DCA is open to employees in all occupational 
families. A DCA, when added to an employee's pay (to include locality 
pay and any supervisory differential), may not exceed the rate of basic 
pay for Executive Level I. DCA is paid on either a bi-weekly basis or 
as a lump sum following completion of a designated performance period, 
or combination of these. DCA is not an entitlement, and is used at the 
discretion of Technical Center Director to recruit and retain high 
performing employees. DCA is not base pay for any purpose, such as 
retirement, life insurance, severance pay, promotion, or any other 
payment or benefit calculated as a percentage of base pay. Employees 
may receive a DCA for up to five years but not more than 10 cumulative 
years over an employee's entire career. The DCA will be reviewed on an 
annual basis for continuation or termination. Further details will be 
published in the IOP.
20. Retention Counteroffers
    The Technical Center Director, working with the PPB, may offer a 
retention counteroffer to retain high performing employees with 
critical scientific or technical skills who present evidence of an 
alternative employment opportunity with higher compensation. Such 
employees may be provided increased base pay (up to the ceiling of the 
payband) and/or a one-time cash payment that does not exceed 50 percent 
of one year of base pay. This flexibility addresses the expected 
benefits described in paragraph II. C, particularly ``increased 
retention of high quality employees.'' Retention allowances, either in 
the form of a base pay increase and/or a bonus, count toward the 
Executive Level I aggregate limitation on pay consistent with 5 U.S.C. 
5307 and 5 CFR part 530, subpart B. Further details will be published 
in the IOP.
21. Pay and Compensation Ceilings
    An employee's total monetary compensation paid in a calendar year 
may not exceed the basic rate of pay paid in level I of the Executive 
Schedule consistent with 5 U.S.C. 5307 and 5 CFR part 530, subpart B. 
In addition, each payband will have its own pay ceiling, just as grades 
do in the GS system. Pay rates for the various paybands will be 
directly keyed to the GS rates. Except for retained rates, base pay 
will be limited to the maximum rates payable for each payband.
22. Pay Setting for Promotion
    Upon promotion, an employee will be entitled to an eight percent 
increase in base pay or the lowest level in the payband to which 
promoted, whichever is greater. For employees who, currently or in the 
future, are assigned to occupational categories and geographic areas 
covered by special salary rate tables: (1) The minimum salary rate in 
the payband to which the employee is promoted is the minimum salary for 
the corresponding special salary rate or locality rate, whichever is 
greater; and (2) a demonstration staffing adjusted pay is considered 
basic pay for promotion calculations. On a case-by-case basis, the 
Technical Center PPB may approve requests for promotion base pay 
increases beyond eight percent, in accordance with established 
Technical Center operating procedures. The Technical Center PPB will 
document its rationale for decisions to provide an increase above eight 
percent. Highest previous rate may also be considered in setting pay in 
accordance with existing pay-setting policies.
23. Pay Retention
    When an employee is involuntarily placed in a lower paid position, 
pay retention may be approved by the PPB, except for SSTM members who 
require approval by the Technical Center Director. Pay retention 
establishes the employee's rate of basic pay upon entry into an initial 
or new position. Any future adjustments to basic pay will be determined 
in accordance with the provisions of this FRN.

C. Classification

    The objectives of the demonstration project classification system 
are to simplify the classification process, make the process more 
serviceable and understandable, and place more decision-making 
authority and accountability with line managers. All Technical Center 
positions will be identified in the IOP. Provisions will be made for 
including other occupations as employment requirements change in 
response to changing technical programs, a change in mission 
requirements, or new OPM-recognized occupations.
1. Occupational Series
    The present GS classification system has over 400 occupations (also 
called series), divided into 22 groups. The occupational series will be 
maintained. New series, established by OPM, may be added as needed to 
reflect new occupations in the workforce.
2. Classification Standards
    The Technical Center will use the CCDC AvMC classification system, 
modified as needed. The present classification standards will be used 
to create local benchmark position descriptions for each payband, 
reflecting duties and responsibilities comparable to those described in 
present classification standards for the span of grades represented by 
each payband. There will be at least one benchmark position description 
for each payband. A supervisory benchmark position description may be 
added to those paybands that include supervisory employees. Present 
titles and series will continue to be used in order to recognize the 
types of work being performed and educational backgrounds and 
requirements of incumbents. Locally developed specialty codes and OPM 
functional codes will be used to facilitate titling, making 
qualification determinations, and assigning competitive levels to 
determine retention status.
3. Position Descriptions and Classification Process
    The Technical Center Director will have classification authority 
and may re-delegate this authority to subordinate managers in the IOP. 
Benchmark position descriptions to assist managers in exercising 
delegated position classification authority will be included in the 
IOP. Managers will identify the occupational family, job series, the 
functional code, the specialty code, payband level, and the appropriate 
acquisition codes. The manager will document these decisions on a 
benchmark cover sheet.
    Specialty codes will be developed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) 
to identify the special nature of work performed. Functional codes are 
those currently found in the OPM

[[Page 49265]]

Introduction to the Classification Standards which define certain kinds 
of activities, e.g., Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, etc., 
and covers Engineers & Scientists.
4. Classification Appeals
    Classification appeals are not accepted on positions which exceed 
the equivalent of a GS-15 level. For all other positions, an employee 
may appeal the occupational family, occupational series, or payband 
level of the position at any time. An employee must first raise the 
areas of concern to a supervisor in the employee's immediate chain of 
command, either verbally or in writing. If an employee is not satisfied 
with the supervisory response, he or she may then appeal to the DoD 
appellate level. Appellate decisions from DoD are final. Time periods 
for case processing under 5 CFR part 511 apply.
    An employee may not appeal the accuracy of the position 
description, the demonstration project classification criteria, or the 
pay-setting criteria; the assignment of occupational series to an 
occupational family; the title of a position; the propriety of a salary 
schedule; or matters grievable under an administrative or negotiated 
grievance procedure or an alternative dispute resolution procedure.
    The evaluation of a classification appeal under this demonstration 
project is based upon the demonstration project classification 
criteria. Case files will be forwarded for adjudication through the 
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center providing personnel service and will 
include copies of appropriate demonstration project criteria.

D. Hiring and Appointment Authorities

1. Qualifications
    A candidate's basic eligibility will be determined using OPM's 
Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions. 
Candidates must meet the minimum standards for entry into the payband. 
For example, if the payband includes positions in grades GS-5 and GS-7, 
the candidate must meet the qualifications for positions at the GS-5 
level. Specific experience/education requirements will be determined 
based on whether a position to be filled is at the lower or higher end 
of the band. Selective placement factors can be established in 
accordance with the OPM Qualification Handbook, when judged to be 
critical to successful job performance. These factors will be 
communicated to all candidates for particular position vacancies and 
must be met for basic eligibility. Restructuring the examining process 
and providing an authority to appoint candidates meeting distinguished 
scholastic achievements will allow the Technical Center to compete more 
effectively for high quality personnel and strengthen the manager's 
role in personnel management as well as the goals of the demonstration 
project.
2. Appointment Authority
    Under the demonstration project, there will continue to be career 
and career conditional appointments and temporary appointments not to 
exceed one year. These appointments will use existing authorities, and 
entitlements, and will comply with merit system principles. A public 
notice may be used to fill anticipated permanent or modified term 
vacancies with a full-time or part-time work schedule at various 
locations.
    Non-permanent positions (exceeding one year) needed to meet 
fluctuating or uncertain workload requirements may be competitively 
filled using the Flexible Length and Renewable Term Technical 
Appointment Authority (FLRTTA), authorized in 82 FR 43339, or the 
Contingent Employee Appointment Authority (CEAA), authorized in 62 FR 
34876, 34889.
    Employees hired for more than one year, under the Contingent 
Employee Appointment Authority, are given modified term appointments in 
the competitive service for up to five years. The Technical Center 
Director is authorized to extend a contingent appointment for up to one 
additional year.
    Using the FLRTTA, a modified term scientific or technical position 
may be filled for any period of more than one year but not more than 
six years, and may be extended in up to six-year increments at any 
time. The initial source of candidates must be from outside of the DoD.
    Employees hired under the FLRTTA and CEAA are entitled to the same 
rights and benefits as term employees. The Pay-for-Performance 
Management System described in III.B applies to employees appointed 
under these authorities. In addition, these employees may be eligible 
for conversion to career-conditional appointments. To be converted from 
CEAA or FLRTTA, the employee must (a) have been selected for the term 
position under an announcement or public notice specifically stating 
that the individual(s) selected for the term position(s) may be 
eligible for conversion to career-conditional appointment at a later 
date without further competition; (b) served two years of substantially 
continuous service in a term position; and (c) have a current rating of 
B or better.
    Employees serving under term appointments at the time of conversion 
to the STRL Demonstration Project will be converted to new term 
contingent employee appointments. Time served in term positions prior 
to conversion to the contingent employee appointment is creditable to 
the requirement for two years of continuous service stated above, 
provided the service was continuous.
(a) Competitive Examining Authority
    Category rating will be used to provide for a more streamlined and 
responsive hiring system to increase the number of eligible candidates 
referred to selecting officials. This provides for the grouping of 
eligible candidates into quality categories and the elimination of 
consideration according to the ``rule of three.'' This includes the 
coordination of recruitment and public notices, the administration of 
the examining process, the administration of veterans' preference, the 
certification of candidates, and selection and appointment consistent 
with merit principles. Specific procedures used for competitive 
examining authority within the Technical Center will be detailed in the 
IOP.
(b) Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Appointment (DSAA)
    A DSAA is an authorization to appoint candidates possessing a 
bachelor's degree or higher to Technical and Business Management 
positions up to pay band III. Candidates may be appointed to positions 
provided all of the following conditions are met: The candidate meets 
the minimum standards for the position as published in OPM's operating 
manual, ``Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions,'' 
plus any selective factors stated in the vacancy announcement; the 
occupation has a positive education requirement; and the candidate has 
a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale) in 
those courses in those fields of study that are specified in the 
Qualifications Standards for the occupational series.
    Veterans' preference procedures will apply when selecting 
candidates under this authority. Preference eligible candidates who 
meet the above criteria will be considered ahead of non-preference 
eligible candidates. In making selections, to pass over any preference 
eligible candidate(s) to select a non-preference eligible candidate 
requires approval under applicable DA pass-over or objection 
procedures.

[[Page 49266]]

    DSAAs will enable the Technical Center to respond quickly to hiring 
needs for eminently qualified candidates possessing distinguished 
scholastic achievements.
(c) Direct Hire Authorities
    The Technical Center will use the direct-hire authorities 
authorized by 10 U.S.C. 2358a to appoint the following:
    (1) Candidates with advanced degrees to scientific and engineering 
positions;
    (2) Candidates with bachelor's degrees to scientific and 
engineering positions;
    (3) Veteran candidates to scientific, technical, engineering, and 
mathematics positions (STEM), including technician positions; and
    (4) Student candidates enrolled in a program of instruction leading 
to a bachelors or advanced degree in a STEM discipline.
3. Legal Authority
    For actions taken under the auspices of the demonstration project, 
the first legal authority code (LAC)/legal authority Z2U/Public Law 
103-337 will be used. The second LAC/legal authority may identify the 
authority utilized (e.g., Direct Hire Authority). For all other 
actions, the nature of action codes and legal authority codes 
prescribed by OPM, DoD, or DA will continue to be used.
4. Probationary Period
    The probationary period will be two years for all newly hired 
employees. All other features of the current probationary period are 
retained, including the potential to remove an employee without 
providing the full substantive and procedural rights afforded a non-
probationary employee. Probationary employees will be terminated if an 
employee fails to demonstrate proper conduct, technical competency, 
and/or adequate contribution for continued employment. When the 
Technical Center Director or designee decides to terminate an employee 
serving a probationary period because his/her work performance or 
conduct during this period fails to demonstrate fitness or 
qualifications for continued employment, the employee will be provided 
written notification of the reasons for separation and the effective 
date of the action. The information in the notice as to why the 
employee is being terminated will, as a minimum, consist of the 
manager's conclusions as to the inadequacies of their performance or 
conduct.
5. Supervisory Probationary Periods
    Supervisory probationary periods will be made consistent with 5 CFR 
315.901. Employees that have successfully completed the initial 
probationary period will be required to complete an additional one year 
probationary period for the initial appointment to a supervisory 
position. If, during the supervisory probationary period, the decision 
is made to return the employee to a nonsupervisory position for reasons 
solely related to supervisory performance, the employee will be 
returned to a comparable position of no lower payband and pay than the 
position from which they were promoted.
6. Volunteer Emeritus Program (VEP)
    The Technical Center Director will have the authority to offer 
former Federal employees who have retired or separated from the Federal 
service, voluntary assignments in the Technical Center. Volunteer 
Emeritus Program assignments are not considered ``employment'' by the 
Federal government (except as indicated below). Thus, such assignments 
do not affect an employee's entitlement to buyouts or severance 
payments based on an earlier separation from Federal service. The 
Volunteer Emeritus Program will ensure continued quality research while 
reducing the overall salary line by allowing higher paid individuals to 
accept retirement incentives with the opportunity to retain a presence 
in the scientific community. The program will be of most benefit during 
manpower reductions as senior employees could accept retirement and 
return to provide valuable on-the-job training or mentoring to less 
experienced employees. Volunteer service will not be used to replace 
any employee, or interfere with career opportunities of employees. The 
Volunteer Emeritus Program may not be used to replace or substitute for 
work performed by civilian employees occupying regular positions 
required to perform the Technical Center's mission.
    To be accepted into the Volunteer Emeritus Program, a candidate 
must be recommended by a Technical Center manager to the Technical 
Center Director. Everyone who applies is not entitled to participate in 
the program. The Technical Center Director will document the decision 
process for each candidate and retain selection and non-selection 
documentation for the duration of the assignment or two years, 
whichever is longer.
    To ensure success and encourage participation, the volunteer's 
federal retirement pay (whether military or civilian) will not be 
affected while serving in a volunteer capacity. Retired or separated 
federal employees may accept an emeritus position without a break or 
mandatory waiting period.
    Volunteers will not be permitted to monitor contracts on behalf of 
the government or to participate on any contracts or solicitations 
where a conflict of interest exists. The same rules that currently 
apply to source selection members will apply to volunteers.
    An agreement will be established between the volunteer, the 
Technical Center Director, and the USASMDC G-1. The agreement will be 
reviewed by the servicing legal office. The agreement must be finalized 
before the assumption of duties and will include:
    (a) A statement that the service provided is gratuitous, that the 
volunteer assignment does not constitute an appointment in the civil 
service and is without compensation or other benefits except as 
provided for in the agreement itself, and that, except as provided in 
the agreement regarding work-related injury compensation, any and all 
claims against the Government (stemming from or in connection with the 
volunteer assignment) are waived by the volunteer;
    (b) a statement that the volunteer will be considered a federal 
employee for the purpose of:
    (1) 18 U.S.C. 201, 203, 205, 207, 208, 209, 603, 606, 607, 643, 
654, 1905, and 1913;
    (2) 31 U.S.C. 1343, 1344, and 1349(b);
    (3) 5 U.S.C. chapters 73 and 81;
    (4) The Ethics in Government Act of 1978;
    (5) 41 U.S.C. chapter 21;
    (6) 28 U.S.C. chapter 171 (tort claims procedure), and any other 
Federal tort liability statute;
    (7) 5 U.S.C. 552a (records maintained on individuals); and
    (c) the volunteer's work schedule;
    (d) the length of agreement (defined by length of project or time 
defined by weeks, months, or years);
    (e) the support to be provided by the Technical Center (travel, 
administrative, office space, supplies);
    (f) the volunteer's duties;
    (g) a provision that states no additional time will be added to a 
volunteer's service credit for such purposes as retirement, severance 
pay, and leave as a result of being a participant in the Volunteer 
Emeritus Program;
    (h) a provision allowing either party to void the agreement with 10 
working days written notice;
    (i) the level of security access required (any security clearance 
required by the assignment will be managed by the Technical Center 
while the volunteer is a participant in the Volunteer Emeritus 
Program);

[[Page 49267]]

    (j) a provision that any written products prepared for publication 
that are related to Volunteer Emeritus Program participation will be 
submitted to the Technical Center Director for review and must be 
approved prior to publication;
    (k) a statement that the volunteer accepts accountability for loss 
or damage to Government property occasioned by the volunteer's 
negligence or willful action;
    (1) a statement that the volunteer's activities on the premises 
will conform to the Technical Center's regulations and requirements;
    (m) a statement that the volunteer will not improperly use or 
disclose any non-public information, to include any pre-decisional or 
draft deliberative information related to DoD programming, budgeting, 
resourcing, acquisition, procurement or other matter, for the benefit 
or advantage of the Volunteer Emeritus Program participant or any non-
Federal entities. Volunteer Emeritus Program participants will handle 
all non-public information in a manner that reduces the possibility of 
improper disclosure;
    (n) a statement that the volunteer agrees to disclose any 
inventions made in the course of work performed at the Technical 
Center. The Technical Center Director will have the option to obtain 
title to any such invention on behalf of the U.S. Government. Should 
the Technical Director elect not to take title, the Center will retain 
a non-exclusive, irrevocable, paid up, royalty-free license to practice 
or have practiced the invention worldwide on behalf of the U.S. 
Government;
    (o) a statement that the Volunteer Emeritus Program participant 
must complete either a Confidential or Public Financial Disclosure 
Report, whichever applies, and ethics training in accordance with 
office of Government Ethics regulations prior to implementation of the 
agreement; and
    (p) a statement that the Volunteer Emeritus Program participant 
must receive post-government employment advice from a DoD ethics 
counselor at the conclusion of program participation. Volunteer 
Emeritus Program participants are deemed Federal employees for purposes 
of post-government employment restrictions.

E. Employee Development

1. Expanded Developmental Opportunity Program
    The Technical Center Expanded Developmental Opportunity Program 
will be funded by the Technical Center, and will cover all 
demonstration project employees. An expanded developmental opportunity 
complements existing developmental opportunities such as (1) long term 
training, (2) one year work experiences in an industrial setting via 
the Relations With Industry Program, (3) one year work experiences in 
laboratories of allied nations via the Science and Engineer Exchange 
Program, (4) rotational job assignments within the Technical Center, 
(5) up to one year developmental assignments in higher headquarters 
within the DA and/or the DoD, and (6) self-directed study via 
correspondence courses and local colleges and universities.
    Each developmental opportunity period should benefit the Technical 
Center, as well as increase the employee's individual effectiveness. 
Various learning or uncompensated developmental work experiences may be 
considered, such as advanced academic teaching or research, or on-the-
job work experience with public or non-profit organizations. Employees 
will be eligible for the Technical Center Expanded Developmental 
Opportunity Program after completion of seven years of Federal service. 
Final approval authority for participation in the Technical Center 
Expanded Developmental Opportunity Program will rest with the Technical 
Center Director, and selection for the Technical Center Expanded 
Developmental Opportunity Program will be granted on a competitive 
basis. An expanded developmental opportunity period will not result in 
loss of (or reduction in) basic pay, leave to which the employee is 
otherwise entitled, or credit for time or service. Employees accepting 
an expanded developmental opportunity may be required to enter a 
continued service agreement, which may vary from the requirement in 5 
U.S.C. 4108(a)(1).
    The opportunity to participate in the Technical Center Expanded 
Developmental Opportunity Program will be announced annually. 
Instructions for application and the selection criteria will be 
included in the announcement. Final selection for participation in the 
program will be made by the PPB. The position of employees on an 
expanded developmental opportunity may be backfilled with employees 
temporarily promoted or contingent employees or employees assigned via 
the simplified assignment process in Section III.A.
2. Training for Degrees
    Degree training is an essential component of an organization that 
requires continuous acquisition of advanced and specialized knowledge. 
Degree training in the academic environment of laboratories is also a 
critical tool for recruiting and retaining employees with critical 
skills. Current government-wide regulations authorize payment for 
degrees based on recruitment or retention needs. Degree payment is not 
currently permitted for non-shortage occupations involving critical 
skills.
    The Technical Center will expand use of these authorities to 
provide degree payment opportunities to employees in all occupational 
families for purposes of meeting current or projected mission 
requirements, to ensure continuous acquisition of advanced and 
specialized knowledge essential to the organization, and to recruit and 
retain personnel critical to the present and future requirements of the 
organization. Degree payment may not be authorized where it would 
result in a tax liability for the employee without the employee's 
express and written consent. It is expected that the degree payment 
authority will be used primarily for advanced degrees, but may be used 
to fund undergraduate courses that are a necessary pre-requisite to the 
attainment of an advanced degree.
    The Technical Center will develop guidelines to ensure competitive 
approval of degree training participation and that related decisions 
are fully documented. Employees participating in degree training will 
be required to enter a continued service agreement required by 5 U.S.C. 
4108(a)(1).

IV. Training

    Training about the demonstration project is key to its success. 
This training will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to carry 
out the demonstration project's proposed changes to the Technical 
Center's personnel system, as well as foster participant commitment to 
the program.
    Training before the beginning of implementation and throughout the 
demonstration project will be provided to supervisors, employees, and 
the administrative staff responsible for assisting managers in 
effecting the changeover and operation of the new system.
    The elements to be covered in the orientation portion of this 
training will include: (1) A description of the personnel system, (2) 
how employees are converted into and out of the system, (3) the pay 
adjustment and/or bonus process, (4) familiarization with the new 
position descriptions and performance objectives, (5) the performance 
evaluation management system, (6) the reconsideration process, (7) the 
demonstration project

[[Page 49268]]

administrative and formal evaluation process, and (8) AFGE Local 1858's 
role and function in the demonstration program.

A. Supervisors

    The focus of this demonstration project on management-centered 
personnel administration, with increased supervisory and managerial 
personnel management authority and accountability, demands thorough 
training of supervisors and managers in the knowledge and skills that 
will prepare them for their new responsibilities. Training will include 
detailed information on the policies and procedures of the 
demonstration project, skills training in using the classification 
system, position description preparation, performance evaluation, and 
interaction with AFGE Local 1858 as a partner. Additional training may 
focus on non-project procedural techniques such as interpersonal and 
communication skills.

B. Administrative Staff

    The administrative staff, including G-1 personnel specialists, 
Technical Center technicians, and administrative officers, will play a 
key role in advising, training, and coaching supervisors and employees 
in implementing the demonstration project. This staff will need 
training in the procedural and technical aspects of the project.

C. Employees

    The Technical Center, in conjunction with the AFGE Local 1858 and 
education and development assets of the USASMDC G-1 and the CPAC will 
train employees covered under the demonstration project. In the months 
leading up to the implementation date, meetings will be held for 
employees to fully inform them of all project decisions, procedures, 
and processes.

V. Conversion

A. Conversion to the Demonstration Project

    Initial entry into the demonstration project for covered employees 
will be accomplished through a full employee protection approach that 
ensures each employee an initial place in the appropriate payband 
without loss of pay. Employees serving under regular term appointments 
at the time the demonstration project is implemented will be converted 
to the contingent employee appointments. Position announcements will 
not be required for these contingent employee appointments. An 
automatic conversion into the new broadband system will be accomplished 
from an interim GS grade and pay which corresponds to an employee's 
current broadband. Each employee's initial total salary under the 
demonstration project will equal the total salary received immediately 
before conversion. Employees who enter the demonstration project later 
by lateral reassignment or transfer (at the same pay grade from within 
the DoD) will be subject to these pay conversion rules.
    If conversion into the demonstration project is accompanied by a 
geographic move, the employee's GS pay entitlements in the new 
geographic area must be determined before performing the pay 
conversion.
    Employees who are on temporary promotions at the time of conversion 
will be converted to a payband commensurate with the grade of the 
position to which they are promoted. At the conclusion of the temporary 
promotion, the employee will revert to the payband which corresponds to 
the employee's grade of record prior to the temporary promotion. When a 
temporary promotion is terminated, the employee's pay entitlements will 
be determined based on the employee's position of record, with 
appropriate adjustments to reflect pay events during the temporary 
promotion, subject to the specific policies and rules established by 
the Technical Center. In no case may those adjustments increase the pay 
for the position of record beyond the applicable pay range maximum 
rate. The only exception will be if the original competitive promotion 
announcement stipulated that the promotion could be made permanent; in 
these cases actions to make the temporary promotion permanent will be 
considered, and, if implemented, will be subject to all existing 
priority placement programs.
    Employees who are covered by special salary rates (SSRs) upon being 
covered by the demonstration project will no longer be considered 
special rate employees under the demonstration project. These employees 
will, therefore, be entitled to full locality pay or a staffing 
supplement, whichever is greater. These employees' adjusted salaries 
will not change. Rather, the employees will receive a new basic pay 
rate computed under the staffing supplement rules in Section V.B.2.e. 
(Pay-Setting Provisions), if applicable. Adverse action and pay 
retention provisions will not apply to the conversion process, as there 
will be no change in total salary.
    During the first 12 months after conversion into the demonstration 
project, employees in career ladder positions will receive pay 
increases for non-competitive promotion equivalents, provided the grade 
level of the promotion is encompassed within the same broadband, the 
employee's performance warrants the promotion, and promotions would 
have otherwise occurred during that period. Employees who receive an 
in-level promotion at the time of conversion will not receive a 
prorated step increase equivalent as defined below.
    Employees who enter the demonstration project later by lateral 
reassignment or transfer from the GS classification and pay system may 
receive an adjustment to their demonstration project base salary for a 
prorated value based upon the number of weeks the employee has 
performed at a successful level for purposes of eligibility for the 
next higher step under the GS system.

B. Conversion or Movement From a Project Position to a General Schedule 
Position

    If a demonstration project employee is moving to a GS position not 
under the demonstration project, or if the project ends and all project 
employees must be converted back to the GS system, the following 
procedures will be used to convert the employee's demonstration project 
payband to a GS-equivalent grade and the employee's demonstration 
project rate of pay to GS equivalent rate of pay. The converted GS 
grade and GS rate of pay must be determined before movement or 
conversion out of the demonstration project and any accompanying 
geographic movement, promotion, or other simultaneous action. For 
conversions upon termination of the demonstration project and for 
lateral reassignments, the converted GS grade and rate will become the 
employee's actual GS grade and rate after leaving the demonstration 
project (before any other action). For employee movement within DoD 
(transfers), promotions, and other actions, the converted GS grade and 
rate will be used in applying any GS pay administration rules 
applicable in connection with the employee's movement out of the 
project (e.g., promotion rules, highest previous rate rules, pay 
retention rules), as if the GS converted grade and rate were actually 
in effect immediately before the employee left the demonstration 
project.
1. Grade-Setting Provisions
    An employee in a payband corresponding to a single GS grade is 
converted to that grade. An employee in a payband corresponding to two 
or more grades is converted to one of those grades according to the 
following rules:

[[Page 49269]]

    a. The employee's adjusted rate of basic pay under the 
demonstration project (including any locality payment or staffing 
supplement) is compared with step four rates on the highest applicable 
GS rate range. (For this purpose, a ``GS rate range'' includes a rate 
in (1) the GS base schedule, (2) the locality rate schedule for the 
locality pay area in which the position is located, or (3) the 
appropriate special rate schedule for the employee's occupational 
series, as applicable.) If the series is a two-grade interval series, 
only odd-numbered grades are considered below GS-11.
    b. If the employee's adjusted project rate equals or exceeds the 
applicable step four rate of the highest GS grade in the band, the 
employee is converted to that grade.
    c. If the employee's adjusted project rate is lower than the 
applicable step four rate of the highest grade, the adjusted rate is 
compared with the step four rate of the second highest grade in the 
employee's payband. If the employee's adjusted rate equals or exceeds 
step four rate of the second highest grade, the employee is converted 
to that grade.
    d. This process is repeated for each successively lower grade in 
the band until a grade is found for which the employee's adjusted 
project rate equals or exceeds the applicable step four rate of the 
grade. The employee is then converted at that grade. If the employee's 
adjusted rate is below the step four rate of the lowest grade in the 
band, the employee is converted to the lowest grade.
    e. Exception: If the employee's adjusted project rate exceeds the 
maximum rate of the grade assigned under the above-described ''step 
four'' rule but fits in the rate range for the next higher applicable 
grade (i.e., between step one and step four), then the employee will be 
converted to that next higher applicable grade.
    f. Exception: An employee will not be converted to a lower grade 
than the grade held by the employee immediately preceding a conversion, 
lateral reassignment, or transfer from within DoD into the project, 
unless since that time the employee has undergone a reduction in band.
2. Pay-Setting Provisions
    An employee's pay within the converted GS grade is set by 
converting the employee's demonstration project rate of pay to the GS 
rate of pay in accordance with the following rules:
    a. The pay conversion is done before any geographic movement or 
other pay-related action that coincides with the employee's movement or 
conversion out of the demonstration project.
    b. An employee's adjusted rate of basic pay under the demonstration 
project (including any locality payment or staffing supplement) is 
converted to a GS adjusted rate on the highest applicable rate range 
for the converted GS grade. An employee's adjusted rate of basic pay 
under the demonstration project (including any locality payment or 
staffing supplement) is converted to the GS adjusted rate on the 
highest applicable rate range for the converted GS grade. (For this 
purpose, a ``GS rate range'' includes a rate range in (1) the GS base 
schedule, (2) an applicable locality rate schedule, or (3) an 
applicable special rate schedule.)
    c. If the highest applicable GS rate range is a locality pay rate 
range, the employee's adjusted project rate is converted to a GS 
locality rate of pay. If this rate falls between two steps in the 
locality-adjusted schedule, the rate must be set at the higher step. 
The converted GS unadjusted rate of basic pay would be the GS base rate 
corresponding to the converted GS locality rate (i.e., same step 
position). (If this employee is also covered by a special rate schedule 
as a GS employee, the converted special rate will be determined based 
on the GS step position. This underlying special rate will be basic pay 
for certain purposes for which the employee's higher locality rate is 
not basic pay.)
    d. If the highest applicable GS rate range is a special rate range, 
the employee's adjusted project rate is converted to a special rate. If 
this rate falls between two steps in the special rate schedule, the 
rates must be set at the higher step. The converted GS unadjusted rate 
of basic pay will be the GS rate corresponding to the converted special 
rate (i.e., same step position).
    e. Staffing Supplement.
     Application of the Staffing Supplement upon Conversion to 
the Demonstration Project:
    Employees assigned to occupational categories and geographic areas 
covered by special rates will be entitled to a staffing supplement if 
the maximum adjusted rate for the banded GS grades to which the 
employee is assigned is a special rate that exceeds the maximum GS 
locality rate for the banded grades. The staffing supplement is added 
to base pay, much like locality rates are added to base pay. For 
employees being converted into the demonstration project, total pay 
immediately after implementation of the staffing supplement will be the 
same as immediately before the staffing supplement, but a portion of 
the total pay will be in the form of a staffing supplement. Adverse 
action and pay retention provisions will not apply to the conversion 
process, as there will be no change in total salary. The staffing 
supplement is calculated as follows:
    Upon conversion, the demonstration base rate will be established by 
dividing the employee's former GS adjusted rate (the higher of special 
rate or locality rate) by the staffing factor. The staffing factor will 
be determined by dividing the maximum special rate for the banded 
grades by the GS unadjusted rate corresponding to that special rate 
(step 10 of the GS rate for the same grade as the special rate). The 
employee's demonstration project staffing supplement is derived by 
multiplying the demonstration base rate by the staffing factor minus 
one. Therefore, the employee's final demonstration project special 
staffing rate equals the demonstration project base rate plus the 
staffing supplement. This amount will equal the employee's former GS 
adjusted rate.
    Simplified, the formula is this:

Staffing factor = (Maximum special rate for the banded grades)/(GS 
unadjusted rate corresponding to that special rate)
Demonstration project base rate = (Former GS adjusted rate, special or 
locality rate)/(staffing factor)
Staffing supplement = (Demonstration project base rate) x (staffing 
factor -1)
Salary upon conversion = (Demonstration project base rate) + (staffing 
supplement)

    Note:  This sum will equal the existing rate.

    Example: Assume there is a GS-854-11, step 3, employee stationed in 
Huntsville, Alabama, who is entitled to the greater of a SSR of $65,213 
or a locality rate of $64,312 ($55,265 + 16.37 percent). The maximum 
special rate for a GS-854-11, step 10 is $79,478, and the corresponding 
regular rate is $67,354. The maximum GS-11 locality rate in Huntsville 
is $78,380 ($67,354 + 16.37 percent), which is less than the maximum 
SSR. Thus, a staffing supplement is payable. The staffing factor is 
computed as follows:

Staffing factor = $79,478/$67,354 = 1.1800
Demonstration project base rate = $65,213/1.1800 = $55,265

    Then to determine the staffing supplement, multiply the 
demonstration project base rate by the staffing factor minus one.

Staffing supplement = $55,265 x 0.1800 = $9,948

    The staffing supplement of $9,948 is added to the demonstration 
project base rate of $55,265 and the total salary is $65,213, which is 
the salary of the employee before this intervention.

[[Page 49270]]

    If an employee is in a band where the maximum GS adjusted rate for 
the banded grades is a locality rate, when the employee enters into the 
demonstration project, the demonstration project base rate is derived 
by dividing the employee's former GS adjusted rate (the higher of 
locality rate or special rate) by the applicable locality pay factor 
(for example, 1.1637 in the Huntsville area for CY 2016). The 
employee's demonstration project locality-adjusted rate will equal the 
employee's former GS adjusted rate. Any GS or special rate schedule 
adjustment will require computing the staffing supplement again. 
Employees receiving a staffing supplement remain entitled to an 
underlying locality rate, which may over time supersede the need for a 
staffing supplement. If OPM discontinues or decreases a special rate 
schedule, pay retention provisions will be applied. Upon geographic 
movement, an employee who receives the staffing supplement will have 
the supplement recomputed. Any resulting reduction in pay will not be 
considered an adverse action or a basis for pay retention.
     Application of the Staffing Supplement in Circumstances 
Other than Conversion to the Demonstration Project:
    Calculation of the staffing supplement discussed above was 
presented in the context of a GS employee entering the demonstration 
project. Application of the staffing supplement is normally intended to 
maintain pay comparability for GS employees entering the demonstration 
project. However, the staffing supplement formulas must be compatible 
with non-Government employees entering the demonstration project and 
also be adaptable to the special circumstances of employees already in 
the demonstration project. Employees who are already in the 
demonstration project and who are in occupational categories covered by 
SSR tables will have their salaries examined for the application of a 
staffing supplement or a one-time salary adjustment.
    The principles in the following paragraphs (1) through (6) govern 
the modifications necessary to the previous staffing supplement 
calculations to apply the staffing supplement to circumstances other 
than a GS employee entering the demonstration project. No adjustment 
under these provisions will provide an increase greater than that 
provided by the SSR. An increase provided under this authority is not 
an equivalent increase, as defined by 5 CFR 531.403. These principles 
are stated with the understanding that the necessary conditions exist 
that require the application of a staffing supplement.
    (1) If a non-Government employee is hired into the demonstration 
project, the employee's entry salary will be used for the term ``former 
GS adjusted rate'' to calculate the demonstration project base rate.
    (2) If a current demonstration project employee is covered by a SSR 
table that has not changed (other than by annual general pay 
increases), the employee's current demonstration project adjusted base 
salary will be used for the term ``former GS adjusted rate'' to 
calculate the demonstration project base rate.
    (3) If a current demonstration project employee is covered by a new 
or modified SSR table, the employee's current demonstration project 
base rate is used to calculate the staffing supplement percentage. The 
employee's new demonstration project adjusted base salary is the sum of 
the current demonstration project base rate and the calculated staffing 
supplement.
    (4) If a current demonstration project employee is in an 
occupational category that is covered by a SSR table and, subsequently, 
the occupational category becomes covered by a different SSR table with 
a higher value, the following steps must be applied to calculate a new 
demonstration project base rate:
    Step 1. To obtain a relevance factor, divide the staffing factor 
that will become applicable to the employee by the staffing factor that 
would have applied to the employee.
    Step 2. Multiply the relevance factor resulting from step one by 
the employee's current adjusted demonstration project rate to determine 
a new adjusted demonstration project rate.
    Step 3. Divide the result from step two by the applicable staffing 
factor to derive a new demonstration project base rate. This new 
demonstration project base rate will be used to calculate the staffing 
supplement and the new demonstration project adjusted base salary.
    (5) If, after the establishment of a new or adjusted SSR table, an 
employee enters the demonstration project (whether converted/hired from 
GS or another pay system, or hired from outside Government) prior to 
this intervention, then the employee's current adjusted base salary is 
used for the term ``former GS adjusted rate'' to calculate the 
demonstration project base rate. This principle prevents double 
compensation due to the single event of a new or adjusted SSR table.
    (6) If an employee is in an occupational category covered by a new 
or modified SSR table, and the pay band to which assigned is not 
entitled to a staffing supplement, then the employee's salary may be 
reviewed and adjusted to accommodate the salary increase provided by 
the SSR. The review may result in a one-time pay increase if the 
employee's salary equals or is less than the highest special salary 
grade and step that exceeds the comparable locality grade and step. 
Technical Center operating procedures will identify the officials 
responsible to make such reviews and determinations. The applicable 
salary increase will be calculated by determining the percentage 
difference between the highest step 10 SSR and the comparable step 10 
locality rate and applying this percentage to the demonstration project 
base rate.
    An established salary including the staffing supplement will be 
considered basic pay for the same purposes as a locality rate under 5 
CFR 531.606(b), i.e., for purposes of retirement, life insurance, 
premium pay, severance pay, and pay advances. It will also be used to 
compute worker's compensation payments and lump-sum payments for 
accrued and accumulated annual leave.
3. E&S Payband III Employees
    An employee in Payband III of the E&S Occupational family will 
convert out of the demonstration project at no higher than the GS-13, 
step 10 level. The Technical Center, in consultation with the USASMDC 
G-1 and CPAC, will develop a procedure to ensure that employees 
entering E&S Payband III understand that if they leave the 
demonstration project and their adjusted pay exceeds the GS-13, step 10 
rate, there is no entitlement to retained pay; their GS-equivalent rate 
will be deemed to be the rate for GS-13, step 10.
4. E&S Payband V Employees
    The minimum basic pay for DB-V positions is 120 percent of the 
minimum rate of basic pay for GS-15. Maximum DB-V basic pay with 
locality pay is limited to Executive Level III (EX-III), and maximum 
salary without locality pay may not exceed EX-IV. The total pay 
(including locality pay and any supervisory differential) may not 
exceed the midpoint between the maximum rate of basic pay of EX-III and 
the maximum rate of basic pay of EX-II, rounded up to the next thousand 
(i.e., $182,050 for calendar year 2019). An employee in Payband V of 
the E&S Occupational family will convert out of the demonstration 
project at the GS-15 level. The Technical Center, in consultation with 
the USASMDC G-1 and CPAC, will develop a procedure to

[[Page 49271]]

ensure that employees entering Payband V understand that if they leave 
the demonstration project and their adjusted pay exceeds the GS-15, 
step 10 rate (e.g., SSTMs), there is no entitlement to retained pay; 
their GS-equivalent rate will be deemed to be the rate for GS-15, step 
10. For those Payband V employees paid below the adjusted GS-15, step 
10 rate, the converted rates will be set in accordance with paragraph 
2.b.
5. Employees With Band or Pay Retention
    a. If an employee is retaining a band level under the demonstration 
project, apply the procedures in paragraphs 1.a. and 1.b. (Grade-
Setting Provisions) above, using the grades encompassed in the 
employee's retained band to determine the employee's GS-equivalent 
retained grade and pay rate. The time in a retained band under the 
demonstration project counts toward the two-year limit on grade 
retention in 5 U.S.C. 5382.
    b. If an employee is retaining a pay rate under the demonstration 
project, the employee's GS-equivalent grade is the highest grade 
encompassed in his or her band level. The Technical Center will 
coordinate with the DoD to prescribe a procedure for determining the 
GS-equivalent pay rate for an employee retaining a rate under the 
demonstration project.
6. Within-Grade Increase
    Equivalent Increase Determinations: Service under the demonstration 
project is creditable for within-grade increase purposes upon 
conversion back to the GS pay system. Performance pay increases 
(including a zero increase) under the demonstration project are 
equivalent increases for the purpose of determining the commencement of 
a within-grade increase waiting period under 5 CFR 531.405(b).
7. Personnel Administration
    All personnel laws, regulations, and guidelines not waived by this 
demonstration project will remain in effect. Basic employee rights will 
be safeguarded and merit principles will be maintained. Supporting 
personnel specialists will continue to process personnel-related 
actions and provide consultative and other appropriate services.
    Use of benchmark position descriptions is not anticipated to 
adversely impact an employee's ability to seek employment outside of 
the Technical Center. Technical Center employees participating in the 
demonstration project will have short generic benchmark position 
descriptions that describe the general type of work performed and the 
range of complexity and supervisory controls. The benchmark position 
description cover sheet lists the OPM occupational series, e.g., 855 
for Electronics Engineer, to which the employee is assigned, and, where 
additional specificity is needed, lists a specialty code that is tied 
to the employee's benchmark description to a particular technology or 
functional area. The OPM occupational code will serve as ready 
identification, Government-wide, of the basic qualifications and 
experience that the employee possesses. In addition, virtually all 
federal employment systems, including OPM's, rely on employee-generated 
resumes that allow applicants to summarize or describe the details of 
their experience and training. Any pertinent information regarding 
Technical Center employees' knowledge, skills, or abilities not 
contained in the benchmark position description can be conveyed to 
potential employers through an employee's resume.
8. Automation
    The Technical Center will continue to use the Defense Civilian 
Personnel Data System (DCPDS) for processing personnel-related data. 
Payroll servicing will continue from the respective payroll offices.
    Local automated systems will be developed to support computing 
performance related pay increases, bonuses, awards, and other personnel 
processes and systems associated with this demonstration project.
9. Experimentation and Revision
    Many aspects of a demonstration project are experimental. Revisions 
will be considered and negotiated with the Union, where appropriate, as 
experience is gained, results are analyzed, and conclusions are reached 
on how the demonstration project is working. The Technical Center may 
make minor modifications, such as changes in the occupational series in 
an occupational family, without further notice. Major changes, such as 
a change in the number of occupational families, will be negotiated 
with the Union to the extent required by law, regulation, and Executive 
Order, and published in the Federal Register. See 5 CFR part 470.

VI. Project Duration

    Public Law 103-337 removed any mandatory expiration date for this 
demonstration project. The demonstration project evaluation plan 
adequately addresses how each personnel management change or 
flexibility will be comprehensively evaluated for at least the first 
five years of the demonstration project. Major changes and 
modifications to the flexibilities will be made if warranted by 
formative evaluation data and will be published in the Federal Register 
to the extent required.

VII. Evaluation Plan

A. Overview

    Title 5 U.S.C. chapter 47 requires that an evaluation system be 
implemented to measure the effectiveness of the proposed personnel 
management changes or flexibilities. An evaluation plan for the entire 
STRL demonstration program covering 24 DoD labs was developed by a 
joint OPM/DoD Evaluation Committee. A comprehensive evaluation plan was 
submitted to the Office of Defense Research & Engineering in 1995 and 
subsequently approved (Proposed Plan for Evaluation of the DoD S&T 
Laboratory Demonstration Program, Office of Merit Systems Oversight & 
Effectiveness, June 1995). The primary focus of the evaluation is to 
determine whether the waivers granted result in a more effective 
personnel system than the current system as well as an assessment of 
the costs associated with the new system.
    The present personnel system with its many rigid rules and 
regulations is generally perceived as an impediment to mission 
accomplishment. The Demonstration Project is intended to remove some of 
those barriers and therefore, is expected to contribute to improved 
organizational performance. While it is not possible to prove a direct 
causal link between intermediate and ultimate outcomes (improved 
personnel system performance and improved organizational 
effectiveness), such a linkage is hypothesized and data will be 
collected and tracked for both types of outcome variables.

B. Evaluation Model

    An intervention impact model (Appendix A) will be used to measure 
the effectiveness of the various personnel system changes or 
interventions. Additional measures will be developed as new 
interventions are introduced or existing interventions modified 
consistent with expected effects. Measures may also be deleted when 
appropriate. Activity specific measures may also be developed to 
accommodate specific needs or interests which are locally unique.
    The evaluation model for the Demonstration Project identifies 
elements critical to an evaluation of the

[[Page 49272]]

effectiveness of the interventions. The overall evaluation approach 
will also include consideration of context variables that are likely to 
have an impact on project outcomes: e.g., Human Resource Management 
regionalization, downsizing, cross-service integration, and the general 
state of the economy. However, the main focus of the evaluation will be 
on intermediate outcomes, i.e., the results of specific personnel 
system changes which are expected to improve human resources 
management. The ultimate outcomes are defined as improved 
organizational effectiveness, mission accomplishment, and customer 
satisfaction.

C. Evaluation

    The STRL Directors will conduct an internal evaluation of the STRL 
Personnel Demonstration Program. Because most of the eligible 
laboratories are participating in the program, a 5 U.S.C. comparison 
group will be compiled from the Central Personnel Data File (CPDF). 
This comparison group will consist of workforce data from Government-
wide research organizations in civilian Federal agencies with missions 
and job series matching those in the DoD laboratories. The comparison 
group will be used primarily in the analysis of pay banding costs and 
turnover rates.
    The evaluation effort will consist of two phases, formative and 
summative evaluation, covering at least five years to permit inter- and 
intra-organizational estimates of effectiveness. The formative 
evaluation phase will include baseline data collection and analysis, 
implementation evaluation, and interim assessments. The formal reports 
and interim assessments will provide information on the accuracy of 
project operation and current information on impact of the project on 
veterans and protected groups, Merit System Principles, and Prohibited 
Personnel Practices. The summative evaluation will focus on an overall 
assessment of project outcomes after five years. The final report will 
provide information to DoD on how well the demonstration project 
achieved the desired goals, which interventions were most effective, 
and whether the results can be generalized to other Federal 
installations.

D. Method of Data Collection

    Data from a variety of different sources will be used in the 
evaluation. Information from existing management information systems 
supplemented with perceptual survey data from employees will be used to 
assess variables related to effectiveness. Multiple methods provide 
more than one perspective on how the demonstration project is working. 
Information gathered through one method will be used to validate 
information gathered through another. Confidence in the findings will 
increase as they are substantiated by the different collection methods. 
The following types of qualitative and/or quantitative data will be 
collected as part of the evaluation: (1) Workforce data; (2) personnel 
office data; (3) employee attitudes and feedback using surveys, 
structured interviews, and focus groups; (4) local activity histories; 
and, (5) core measures of laboratory effectiveness.

VIII. Demonstration Project Costs

    Costs associated with the development of the personnel 
demonstration system include software automation, training, and project 
evaluation. All funding will be provided through the Technical Center's 
budget. The projected annual expenses for each area is summarized in 
Table 1.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN19SE19.024

IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation

    Public Law 103-337 gave the DoD the authority to experiment with 
several personnel management innovations. In addition to the 
authorities granted by the law, the following are the waivers of law 
and regulation that will be necessary for implementation of the 
Demonstration Project. In due course, additional laws and regulations 
may be identified for waiver request.
    The following waivers and adaptations of certain 5 U.S.C. 
provisions are required only to the extent that these statutory 
provisions limit or are inconsistent with the actions contemplated 
under this demonstration project. Nothing in this plan is intended to 
preclude the demonstration project from adopting or incorporating any 
law or regulation enacted, adopted, or amended after the effective date 
of this demonstration project.

A. Title 5 U.S.C.

    Chapter 5, section 552a: Records. Waived to the extent required to 
clarify that volunteers under the Voluntary Emeritus Program are 
considered employees of the Federal government for purposes of this 
section.
    Chapter 31, section 3104: Employment of Specially Qualified 
Scientific and Professional Personnel. Waived to allow SSTMs.
    Chapter 31, section 3132: The Senior Executive Service; Definitions 
and exclusions. Waived to allow SSTMs.
    Chapter 33, section 3308: Competitive Service; Examinations; 
Educational Requirements Prohibited. This section is waived with 
respect to the scholastic achievement appointment authority.
    Chapter 33, section 3317(a), Competitive Service, certification 
from registers. Waived insofar as ``rule of three'' is eliminated.
    Chapter 33, section 3318(a), Competitive Service, selection from 
certificates. Waived insofar as ``rule of three'' is eliminated.
    Chapter 33, section 3321: Competitive Service; Probationary Period: 
This section waived only to the extent necessary to replace grade with 
``pay band.''
    Chapter 33, section 3324 and section 3325: Appointments to 
Positions Classified Above GS-15. Waived in entirety to allow SSTMs.
    Chapter 33, section 3327: Civil service employment information. 
Waived to allow for provisions as described in this FRN.

[[Page 49273]]

    Chapter 33, section 3330: Government-wide list of vacant positions. 
Waived to allow for provisions as described in this FRN.
    Chapter 33, section 3341: Details. This waiver applies to the 
extent necessary to waive the time limits for details.
    Chapter 35, section 3502: Order of Retention. Waived to the extent 
necessary to allow provisions of the RIF plan as described in this FRN.
    Chapter 41, section 4107: Pay for Degrees. Waived in entirety.
    Chapter 41, section 4108: Employee Agreements; Service after 
Training. To the extent that employees who accept an expanded 
developmental opportunity (sabbatical) do not have to sign a continued 
service agreement.
    Chapter 43, sections 4301-4305: Related to performance appraisal. 
These sections are waived to the extent necessary to allow provisions 
of the performance management system as described in this FRN.
    Chapter 51, sections 5101-5112: Related to classification standards 
and grading. Waived to the extent that white collar employees will be 
covered by broadbanding and to the extent necessary to allow 
classification provisions described in this FRN. Pay category 
determination criteria for federal wage system positions remain 
unchanged.
    Chapter 53, sections 5301-5307: Related to pay comparability system 
and General Schedule pay rates. Waived to the extent necessary to allow 
demonstration project employees, including SSTM employees, to be 
treated as General Schedule employees, and to allow basic rates of pay 
under the demonstration project to be treated as scheduled rates of 
pay. SSTM pay will not exceed EX-IV and locality adjusted SSTM rates 
will not exceed EX III.
    Chapter 53, sections 5331-5336: General Schedule pay rates. These 
waivers apply to the extent necessary to allow: (1) Demonstration 
Project employees to be treated as GS employees; (2) to allow the 
provisions of this FRN pertaining to setting rates of pay; and (3) 
waive sections 5335 and 5336 in their entirety.
    Chapter 53, sections 5361-5366: Grade and pay retention. Waived to 
the extent necessary to allow pay and grade retention provisions 
described in this FRN.
    Chapter 55, section 5542(a)(1)-(2): Overtime rates; computation. 
These sections are adapted only to the extent necessary to provide that 
the GS-10 minimum special rate (if any) for the special rate category 
to which a project employee belongs is deemed to be the ``applicable 
special rate'' in applying the pay cap provisions in 5 U.S.C. 5542.
    Chapter 55, section 5545(d): Hazardous duty differential. This 
waiver applies only to the extent necessary to allow demonstration 
project employees to be treated as General Schedule employees. This 
waiver does not apply to ST employees or employees in Payband V of the 
E&S occupational family.
    Chapter 55, section 5547(a)-(b): Limitation on premium pay. These 
sections are adapted only to the extent necessary to provide that the 
GS-15 maximum special rate (if any) for the special rate category to 
which a project employee belongs is deemed to be the ``applicable 
special rate'' in applying the pay cap provisions in 5 U.S.C. 5547.
    Chapter 57, section 5753: Recruitment and Relocation Bonuses. 
Waived to the extent necessary to allow demonstration project 
employees, including SSTM employees, to be treated as General Schedule 
employees.
    Chapter 57, section 5754: Retention Bonuses. Waived to the extent 
necessary to allow provisions of the retention counteroffer and 
incentives as described in this FRN.
    Chapter 57, section 5755: Supervisory Differentials. Waived to the 
extent necessary to allow provisions as described in this FRN.
    Chapter 59, section 5941: Allowances based on living costs and 
conditions of environment; employees stationed outside continental U.S. 
or Alaska. This waiver applies only to the extent necessary to provide 
that COLAs paid to employees under the demonstration project are paid 
in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the President (as 
delegated to OPM).
    Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 
7511(a)(1)(C)(ii): Adverse Actions--Definitions. Waived to the extent 
necessary to remove the reference to one year of current continuous 
service, and to permit termination during the extended probationary 
period without using adverse action procedures for those employees 
serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for 
those with veterans' preference.
    Chapter 75, section 7512(3): Adverse actions. This waiver applies 
only to the extent necessary to replace ``grade'' with ``payband.''
    Chapter 75, section 7512(4): Adverse actions. This waiver applies 
only to the extent necessary to provide that adverse action provisions 
do not apply to (1) conversions from General Schedule special rates to 
demonstration project pay, as long as total pay is not reduced and (2) 
reductions in pay due to the removal of a supervisory pay adjustment 
upon voluntary movement to a nonsupervisory position.

B. Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations

    Parts 300 through 330, Employment (General) other than Subpart G of 
300. Waived to the extent necessary to allow provisions of the direct 
hire authorities as described in 79 FR 43722 and 82 FR 29280.
    Sections 300.601 through 300.605: Time-in-Grade requirements. 
Restrictions eliminated under the demonstration.
    Section 315.803(b): Agency Action during probationary period 
(general). Waived to allow for termination during an extended 
probationary period without using adverse action procedures under 5 CFR 
part 752, subpart D.
    Section 315.901 and 315.907: Statutory requirements. This waiver 
applies only to the extent necessary to replace ``grade'' with ``pay 
band.''
    Sections 316.301, 316.303, and 316.304: Term Employment. Waived to 
the extent necessary to allow modified term appointments and Flexible 
Length and Renewable Term Technical Appointments as described in this 
FRN.
    Sections 330.103 through 330.105: Requirement to notify OPM. Waived 
to the extent necessary to allow the Technical Center to publish 
competitive announcements outside of USAJOBS.
    Parts 332 and 335: Related to competitive examination. Waived to 
the extent necessary to allow employees appointed on a Flexible Length 
and Renewable Term Technical Appointment to apply for federal positions 
as status candidates.
    Section 332.401(b): Order on Registers. Waived to the extent that 
for non-professional or non-scientific positions equivalent to GS-9 and 
above, preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected 
disability of 10 percent or more who meet basic (minimum) qualification 
requirements will be entered at the top of the highest group certified 
without the need for further assessment.
    Section 332.402: Referring candidates for appointment. ``Rule of 
three'' will not be used in the demonstration projects.
    Section 332.404: Order of selection from certificates. Waived to 
the extent that order of selection is not limited to highest three 
eligibles.
    Section 335.103: Agency promotion programs. Waived to the extent 
necessary to extend the length of details and temporary promotions 
without requiring competitive procedures.

[[Page 49274]]

    Section 337.101(a): Rating applicants. Waived to the extent 
necessary to allow referral without rating when there are 15 or fewer 
qualified candidates and no qualified preference eligibles.
    Section 338.301: Competitive service appointment. Waived to allow 
for Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Appointment grade point 
average requirements as described in this FRN.
    Section 351.402(b): Competitive Areas. Waived to allow the 
Technical Center to be established as a single competitive area.
    Section 351.403: Competitive level. Waived to the extent that 
payband is substituted for grade.
    Section 351.504: Credit for Performance. Waived to the extent 
necessary to allow provisions described in this FRN.
    Section 351.701: Assignment Involving Displacement. Waived to the 
extent that employees bump rights will be limited to one payband except 
in the case of 30 percent preference eligible, which is a position 
equivalent to five GS grades below the minimum grade level of his/her 
payband.
    Section 359.705: Related to SES pay. Waived to allow demonstration 
project rules governing pay retention to apply to a former SES placed 
on a SSTM position.
    Section 410.308(a-f): Training to obtain an academic degree. Waived 
to the extent necessary to allow provisions described in this FRN.
    Section 410.309: Agreements to continue in service. This waiver 
applies to that portion that pertains to the authority of the head of 
the agency to determine continued service requirements, to waive 
repayment of such requirements, and to the extent that the service 
obligation is to the Technical Center.
    Part 430, Subpart B: Performance Appraisal for General Schedule, 
Prevailing Rate, and Certain Other Employees. Waived to the extent that 
employees under the demonstration project will not be subject to the 
requirements of Subpart B.
    Sections 432.102--432.106(a): Related to Performance-based Actions. 
Modified to the extent that an employee may be removed, reduced in band 
level with a reduction in pay, reduced in pay without a reduction in 
band level and reduced in band level without a reduction in pay based 
on unacceptable performance. Modified also to delete reference to 
critical element.
    Part 511: Classification Under the General Schedule. Waived to the 
extent necessary to allow classification provisions outlined in this 
FRN to include the list of issues that are neither appealable nor 
reviewable, the assignment of series under the project plan to 
appropriate career paths; and to allow appeals to be decided by the 
Technical Center Director. If the employee is not satisfied with the 
Technical Center Director's response to the appeal, they may then 
appeal to the DoD appellate level.
    Part 530, Subpart C: Special salary rates. Waived in its entirety.
    Part 531, Subparts B, D, and E: Determining rate of basic pay, 
within-grade increases, and quality step increases. Waived in its 
entirety.
    Part 531, Subpart F: Locality-based comparability adjustments. This 
waiver applies only to the extent necessary to allow demonstration 
project employees, including SSTMs in Payband V, to be treated as 
General Schedule employees, and basic rates of pay under the 
demonstration project to be treated as scheduled annual rates of pay. 
This waiver does not apply to ST employees who continue to be covered 
by these provisions, as appropriate.
    Part 536: Grade and pay retention. This waiver applies only to the 
extent necessary to (1) replace ``grade'' with ``payband''; (2) provide 
that pay retention provisions do not apply to conversions from General 
Schedule special rates to demonstration project pay, as long as total 
pay is not reduced, and to reductions in pay due solely to the removal 
of a supervisory pay adjustment upon voluntarily leaving a supervisory 
position; (3) provide that an employee on pay retention whose 
performance rating is ``U'' is not entitled to 50 percent of the amount 
of the increase in the maximum rate of basic pay payable for the 
payband of the employee's position; (4) provide that pay retention 
provisions do not apply when reduction in basic pay is due solely to 
the reallocation of demonstration project pay rates in the 
implementation of a `staffing supplement;' and (5) to the extent 
necessary to allow SSTMs to receive pay retention as described in this 
FRN.
    Sections 550.105 and 550.106: Biweekly and annual maximum earnings 
limitations. These sections are adapted only to the extent necessary to 
provide that the GS-15 maximum special rate (if any) for the special 
rate category to which a project employee belongs is deemed to be the 
``applicable special rate'' in applying the pay cap provisions in 5 
U.S.C. 5547.
    Section 550.113(a): Computation of overtime pay. This section is 
adapted only to the extent necessary to provide that the GS-10 minimum 
special rate (if any) for the special rate category to which a project 
employee belongs is deemed to be the ``applicable special rate'' in 
applying the pay cap provisions in 5 U.S.C. 5542.
    Section 550.703: Severance Pay. This waiver applies only to the 
extent necessary to modify the definition of ``reasonable offer'' by 
replacing ``two grades or pay levels'' with ``one band level'' and 
``grade or pay Level'' with ``band level.''
    Section 550.902: Hazardous Duty Differential. This waiver applies 
only to the extent necessary to allow demonstration project employees 
to be treated as General Schedule employees. This waiver does not apply 
to SSTM employees.
    Part 575, Subparts A, B, C, and D: Recruitment Bonuses, Relocation 
Bonuses, Retention Allowances and Supervisory Differentials. This 
waiver applies to the extent necessary to allow employees and positions 
under the STRL demonstration project covered by paybanding to be 
treated as employees and positions under the General Schedule; to allow 
the Technical Center Director to pay a retention counteroffer up to 50 
percent of basic pay of either a base pay and/or a cash payment to 
retain quality employees; and to the extent necessary to allow SSTMs to 
receive supervisory pay differentials. Criteria for retention 
determination and preparing written service agreements will be as 
prescribed in 5 U.S.C. 5754 and as waived herein.
    Sections 752.201 and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and 
coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to replace ``grade'' with 
``payband''; and to the extent necessary to provide that adverse action 
provisions do not apply to (1) conversions from General Schedule 
special rates to demonstration project pay, as long as total pay is not 
reduced, and (2) reductions in pay due to the removal of a supervisory 
pay adjustment upon voluntary movement to a nonsupervisory position.

Appendix A: Project Evaluation and Oversight

[[Page 49275]]



                            Intervention Impact Model--DoD Lab Demonstration Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Intervention                  Expected effects                Measures               Data sources
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1. Compensation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Paybanding.....................  --increased organizational  --perceived flexibility...  --attitude survey.
                                     flexibility.
                                    --reduced administrative    --actual/perceived time     --personnel office
                                     workload, paperwork         savings.                    data, attitude
                                     reduction.                                              survey.
                                    --advanced in-hire rates..  --starting salaries of      --workforce data.
                                                                 banded v. non-banded
                                                                 employees.
                                    --increased pay potential.  --progression of new hires  --workforce data.
                                                                 over time by band,
                                                                 occupational family.
                                                                --mean salaries by band,    --workforce data.
                                                                 occupational family,
                                                                 demographics, total
                                                                 payroll cost.
                                    --increased satisfaction    --employee perceptions of   --attitude survey.
                                     with advancement.           advancement.
                                    --increased pay             --pay satisfaction,         --attitude survey.
                                     satisfaction.               internal/external equity.
                                    --improved recruitment....  --offer/acceptance ratios.  --personnel office
                                                                                             data.
                                                                --percent declinations....  --personnel office
                                                                                             data.
b. Conversion buy-in..............  --employee acceptance.....  --employee perceptions of   --attitude survey.
                                                                 equity, fairness.
                                                                --cost as a percent of      --workforce data.
                                                                 payroll.
c. Supervisor pay differential/     --Increased incentive to    --perceived motivational    --attitude survey.
 adjustments.                        accept supervisory          power.
                                     positions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            2. Performance Management
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Cash awards/bonuses............  --reward/motivate           --perceived motivational    --attitude survey.
                                     performance.                power.
                                    --to support fair and       --amount and number of      --workforce data.
                                     appropriate distribution    awards by occupational
                                     of awards.                  family, demographics.
                                                                --perceived fairness of     --attitude survey.
                                                                 awards.
                                                                --satisfaction with         --attitude survey.
                                                                 monetary awards.
b. Performance based pay            --increased pay-            --perceived pay-            --attitude survey.
 progression.                        performance link.           performance link.
                                                                --perceived fairness of     --attitude survey.
                                                                 ratings.
                                    --improved performance      --satisfaction with         --attitude survey.
                                     feedback.                   ratings.
                                                                --employee trust in         --attitude survey.
                                                                 supervisors.
                                                                --adequacy of performance   --attitude survey.
                                                                 feedback.
                                    --decreased turnover of     --turnover by performance   --workforce data.
                                     high performers/increased   rating category.
                                     turnover of low
                                     performers.
                                    --differential pay          --pay progression by        --workforce data.
                                     progression of high/low     performance rating
                                     performers.                 category, occupational
                                                                 family.
                                    --alignment of              --linkage of performance    --attitude survey/
                                     organizational and          expectations to strategic   focus groups.
                                     individual performance      plans/goals.
                                     expectations and results.
                                    --increased employee        --better communication of   --attitude survey/
                                     involvement in              performance expectations.   focus groups.
                                     performance planning and
                                     assessment.
                                                                --perceived involvement...  --attitude survey/
                                                                                             focus groups.
c. New appraisal process..........  --reduced administrative    --employee and supervisor   --attitude survey.
                                     burden.                     perception of revised
                                                                 procedures.
                                    --improved communication..  --perceived fairness of     --focus groups.
                                                                 process.
d. Performance development........  --better communication of   --feedback and coaching     --attitude survey.
                                     performance expectations.   procedures used.
                                                                --time, funds spent on      --workforce data/
                                                                 training by demographics.   training records.
                                    --improved satisfaction     --organizational            --attitude survey.
                                     and quality of workforce.   commitment.
                                                                --perceived workforce       --attitude survey.
                                                                 quality.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                3. Classification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Improved classification system   --reduction in amount of    --time spent on             --workforce data.
 with generic standards.             time and paperwork spent    classification procedures.
                                     on classification.
                                                                --reduction of paperwork/   --workforce data.
                                                                 number of personnel
                                                                 actions (classification/
                                                                 promotion).
                                    --ease of use.............  --managers' perceptions of  --attitude survey.
                                                                 time savings, ease of
                                                                 use, improved ability to
                                                                 recruit.
                                    --improved recruitment of   --quality of recruits.....  --focus groups/
                                     employees with                                          interviews.
                                     appropriate skills.
                                                                --perceived quality of      --focus groups.
                                                                 recruits.
                                                                --GPA of new hires,         --personnel office.
                                                                 educational levels.

[[Page 49276]]

 
b. Classification authority         --increased supervisory     --perceived authority.....  --attitude survey.
 delegated to managers.              authority/accountability.
                                    --decreased conflict        --number of classification  --personnel office.
                                     between management and      disputes/appeals pre/post.
                                     personnel staff.
                                                                --management satisfaction   --attitude survey.
                                                                 with service provided by
                                                                 personnel office.
                                    --no negative impact on     --internal pay equity.....  --attitude survey.
                                     internal pay equity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       4. Combination of All Interventions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All...............................  --Improved organizational   --combination of personnel  --all data sources.
                                     effectiveness.              management measures.
                                    --improved management of    --employee/management       --attitude survey.
                                     R&D workforce.              satisfaction.
                                    --cross functional          --perceived effectiveness   --attitude survey.
                                     coordination.               of planning procedures.
                                                                --actual/perceived          --attitude survey.
                                                                 coordination.
                                    --increased product         --customer satisfaction...  --customer
                                     success.                                                satisfaction
                                                                                             surveys.
                                    --cost of innovation......  --project training/         --demo project
                                                                 development cost (staff     records.
                                                                 salaries, contract cost,   --contract
                                                                 training hours per          documents.
                                                                 employee).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix B: Performance Elements

    All employees will be rated against at least the five generic 
performance elements listed through ``e'' in this appendix. 
Technical competence is a mandatory critical element. Other elements 
may be identified as critical by agreement between the rater and the 
employee. In case of disagreements, the decision of the supervisor 
will prevail. Generally, any performance element weighted 25 or 
higher should be critical. However, only those employees whose 
duties require manager/leader responsibilities will be rated on 
element ``f.'' Supervisors will be rated against an additional 
critical performance element, listed at ``g.'' in this appendix:
    a. Technical Competence. Exhibits and maintains current 
technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to produce timely and 
quality work with the appropriate level of supervision. Makes 
prompt, technically sound decisions and recommendations that add 
value to mission priorities and needs. For appropriate occupational 
families, seeks and accepts developmental and/or special 
assignments. Adaptive to technological change. (Weight range: 15 to 
50).
    b. Working Relationships. Accepts personal responsibility for 
assigned tasks. Considerate of others' views and open to compromise 
on areas of difference, if allowed by technology, scope, budget, or 
direction. Exercises tact and diplomacy and maintains effective 
relationships, particularly in immediate work environment and 
teaming situations. Always willing to give assistance. Shows 
appropriate respect and courtesy. (Weight Range: 5 to 15).
    c. Communications. Provides or exchanges oral/written ideas and 
information in a manner that is timely, accurate and cogent. Listens 
effectively so that resultant actions show understanding of what was 
said. Coordinates so that all relevant individuals and functions are 
included in, and informed of, decisions and actions. (Weight Range: 
5 to 15).
    d. Resource Management. Meets schedules and deadlines, and 
accomplishes work in order of priority; generates and accepts new 
ideas and methods for increasing work efficiency; effectively 
utilizes and properly controls available resources; supports 
organization's resource development and conservation goals. (Weight 
Range: 15 to 50).
    e. Customer Relations. Demonstrates care for customers through 
respectful, courteous, reliable, and conscientious actions. Seeks 
out and develops solid working relationships with customers to 
identify their needs, quantifies those needs, and develops practical 
solutions. Keeps customer informed and prevents surprises. Within 
the scope of job responsibility, seeks out and develops new programs 
and/or reimbursable customer work. (Weight Range: 10 to 50).
    f. Management/Leadership. Actively furthers the mission of the 
organization. As appropriate, participates in the development and 
implementation of strategic and operational plans of the 
organization. Develops and implements tactical plans. Exercises 
leadership skills within the environment. Mentors junior personnel 
in career development, technical competence, and interpersonal 
skills. Exercises due responsibility of technical/acquisition/
organizational positions assigned to them. (Weight Range: 0 to 50).
    g. Supervision/EEO. Works toward recruiting, developing, 
motivating, and retaining quality team members; takes timely/
appropriate personnel actions, applies EEO/merit principles; 
communicates mission and organizational goals; by example, creates a 
positive, safe, and challenging work environment; distributes work 
and empowers team members. (Weight Range: 15 to 50).

    Dated: September 16, 2019.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2019-20329 Filed 9-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P