National Nuclear Security Administration Pay and Performance System, 52653-52654 [2021-20510]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices
suggestions beyond the scope of the
request for comments and the questions
posed therein were provided in many of
the comments. The USPTO appreciates
the suggestions and may address them
in the future, once further evaluation
and data are garnered.
This notice merely describes agency
policy and procedures and does not
involve substantive rulemaking. While
the criteria for admission to practice in
patent matters is generally described in
37 CFR 11.7, the rule does not set forth
the specific scientific and technical
criteria for admission.
Administrative Update 1: Add Common
Category B Degrees to Category A
As explained further in the GRB,
bachelor’s degrees listed under Category
A present prima facie evidence of the
requisite technical and scientific
qualifications. Prior to this notice, the
bachelor’s degree under Category A may
only have been in one of the following
subjects: Biology, biochemistry, botany,
computer science, electronics
technology, food technology, general
chemistry, marine technology,
microbiology, molecular biology,
organic chemistry, pharmacology,
physics, textile technology, aeronautical
engineering, agricultural engineering,
biomedical engineering, ceramic
engineering, chemical engineering, civil
engineering, computer engineering,
electrical engineering, electrochemical
engineering, engineering physics,
general engineering, geological
engineering, industrial engineering,
mechanical engineering, metallurgical
engineering, mining engineering,
nuclear engineering, and petroleum
engineering. These degree categories
will remain listed under Category A.
Acceptable computer science degrees
under Category A must be accredited by
the Computer Science Accreditation
Commission of the Computing Sciences
Accreditation Board or by the
Computing Accreditation Commission
of the Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology on or
before the date the degree was awarded.
This requirement for computer science
degrees under Category A remains
unchanged by this notice. Based on the
comments received, the USPTO will
continue to evaluate this requirement in
light of the type of computer science
degrees (i.e., whether accredited or not)
and the nature of computer science
degrees generally awarded by colleges
and universities.
Starting in early 2020, the USPTO
undertook a review of Category B
applications to identify bachelor’s
degrees that are routinely accepted as
demonstrating the requisite scientific
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52653
and technical qualifications. This
review is ongoing. Based on the analysis
to date and comments received, and
understanding that Category A cannot
be an exhaustive list of all degrees that
would qualify, the Office is expanding
the above list of Category A degrees to
expressly include the following degrees
that are routinely accepted under
Category B: Aerospace engineering,
bioengineering, biological science,
biophysics, electronics engineering,
genetic engineering, genetics, marine
engineering, materials engineering,
materials science, neuroscience, ocean
engineering, and textile engineering.
Listing these Category B degrees under
Category A will improve operating
efficiency and streamline the
application process for prospective
patent practitioners.
The USPTO also invited comments on
any additional degrees that should be
considered under Category A. Based on
the comments received and a review of
the applicants in the suggested degree
categories over the past three calendar
years (i.e., 2018 through 2020), the
USPTO is also expanding the list of
Category A degrees to expressly include
the following degree: Environmental
engineering. Other degree categories
suggested by commenters were
considered but are not being included
under Category A at this time to allow
for the additional collection and
evaluation of data on these degree
categories. For example, one of the
degree categories suggested by
commenters was artificial intelligence.
In the past three calendar years,
however, there have been no applicants
with an artificial intelligence degree.
The USPTO will continue to monitor
degree categories as the degrees and
data develop.
The Office will continue to accept
degrees where the transcript
demonstrates equivalence to a Category
A degree (For example, molecular cell
biology may be equivalent to biology,
and materials science and engineering
may be equivalent to materials
science.).2
demonstrating acceptable technical and
scientific training. This includes the
newly added Category A degrees listed
above and degrees where the transcript
demonstrates equivalence to a Category
A degree.
Administrative Update 2: Accept
Advanced Degrees Under Category A
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Prior to this notice, Category A did
not include post-baccalaureate degrees.
Based on a review of applicants and the
comments received, the USPTO is
updating the GRB to list possession of
a master’s or a doctor of philosophy
degree in a Category A subject as
2 See OED Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs),
available at www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/
patent-and-trademark-practitioners/oed-frequentlyasked-questions-faqs.
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Administrative Update 3: Accept a
Combination of Core Sciences Under
Category B, Options 2 and 4
Prior to this notice, Category B,
Option 4 in the GRB required a
combination of 40 credit hours in
acceptable technical and scientific
courses, including at least 8 hours in
either chemistry with a lab or 8 hours
in physics with a lab. Category B,
Option 2, which focuses on training in
biology and related sciences, had a
similar requirement. The requirement
for lab-based core science courses is
meant to ensure familiarity with the
processes involved in conducting valid
experiments, the scientific method, and
proper analysis of scientific data.
It is not clear whether multiple
courses in either chemistry or physics
alone, with a lab, provide an
appreciable benefit over general core
science training. Accordingly, the
USPTO is revising Category B, Option 4
by changing ‘‘8 semester hours in
chemistry or 8 semester hours of
physics . . . obtained in two sequential
courses, each containing a lab’’ to ‘‘eight
semester hours in a combination of
chemistry, physics, and/or biology, with
at least one course including a lab.’’
Category B, Option 2, which already
requires training in biology, is being
revised to require at least ‘‘eight
semester hours in a combination of
chemistry and physics, with at least one
course including a lab.’’
Andrew Hirshfeld,
Commissioner for Patents, Performing the
Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary
of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
Director of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2021–20378 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
Department of the Navy
National Nuclear Security
Administration Pay and Performance
System
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice of the Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (NNPP) conversion
to the National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) pay and
performance system.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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52654
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices
In accordance with the Fiscal
Year 2018 National Defense
Authorization Act, the DON announces
that the NNPP, a joint activity of the
DON and the Department of Energy
(DOE), NNPP will convert from the
General Schedule (GS) Classification
and Pay System and the DON Interim
Performance Management System
(IPMS) to the NNSA pay and
performance System, also known as the
NNSA Demonstration Project. This
conversion will align DON employees of
the NNPP with their counterparts in the
DOE, NNSA, and bring parity to the pay
and performance systems within the
Nuclear Propulsion workforce.
DATES: This conversion will become
effective September 22, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Edward Rose, 412–476–7204, or
edward.rose@nrp.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When the
Naval Sea Systems Command
(NAVSEA) Headquarters converted to
the DoD Civilian Acquisition Workforce
Personnel Demonstration Project
(AcqDemo), Naval Reactors chose to opt
out of AcqDemo in anticipation of
aligning with the DOE, NNSA
Demonstration Project. Section
3116(a)(3) of the Fiscal Year 2018
NDAA authorized NNPP to convert its
DON employees to the NNSA System
with the concurrence of the Secretary of
the Navy. The Secretary of the Navy
approved the transition of NNPP’s DON
civilian personnel to the NNSA
Demonstration Project Personnel
Management System on February 5,
2019. NNPP has been working with the
NAVSEA Office of Civilian Human
Resources to promulgate the conversion
and plan the implementation through
relevant DON and DoD offices. After
providing data and supporting
documentation, the DoD Defense
Civilian Personnel Advisory Service has
given approval to commence with the
planning and implementation upon
publishing of this notice. The
implementation will require, among
other actions, coordination with the
DFAS, final notice to employees,
developing NNPP procedures, creating
new position descriptions, and
processing pay plan adjustment
personnel actions.
The NNSA Demonstration Project was
designed by NNSA, with participation
of and review by the DOE and the Office
of Personnel Management. The NNSA
Demonstration Project modifies the GS
Classification and Pay System by
creating broad career paths, establishing
pay bands within each career path
which may cover more than one GS
grade, eliminates longevity-based step
SUMMARY:
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16:44 Sep 21, 2021
Jkt 253001
progression, and provides for annual
pay adjustments based on performance.
The NNPP has experienced higher-thanaverage attrition and has had difficulty
filling positions, with pay/grade
frequently cited as the reason for
declination by candidates.
As a joint DON/DOE organization,
Naval Reactors has historically managed
its civilian workforce under each
respective agency’s personnel
management system. The Fiscal Year
(FY) 2018 National Defense
Authorization Act states that the
Director of the Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (NNPP) may, ‘‘with
concurrence of the Secretary of the
Navy,’’ apply NNSA DEMO to all nonexecutive competitive service
employees of the NNPP, thereby
strengthening Naval Reactors’
recruitment and retention of the highestquality technical and professional
workforce. This move aligns with the
goal of shifting away from tenure-based
personnel systems to performance-based
personnel management systems while
streamlining administrative processes
inherent in managing Naval Reactors’
employees under two different systems.
All DON NNPP current GS employees
and vacant GS positions will be
converted, excluding any Schedule C
excepted service positions. There are
approximately 210 affected positions,
with all but about 40 of those positions
located at the Washington Navy Yard.
These positions will remain as DON
positions. The NNPP will adopt the
NNSA Demonstration Project Policies
and Procedures Manual, dated March
2008, which will also be used by the
servicing Human Resources Office and
the Defense Finance Accounting Service
(DFAS) to implement and support the
NNPP. The intent of this notice is to
promulgate this conversion to
stakeholders within the Departments of
Energy, Defense, and Navy. Affected
employees are not represented by a
labor union.
Dated: September 17, 2021.
J.M. Pike,
Commander, Judge Advocate General’s Corps,
U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–20510 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; National
Center for Information and Technical
Support for Postsecondary Students
With Disabilities Program
Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
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ACTION:
Notice.
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications (NIA) for a new award for
fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the National
Center for Information and Technical
Support for Postsecondary Students
with Disabilities Program, Assistance
Listing Number 84.116D. This notice
relates to the approved information
collection under OMB control number
1894–0006.
DATES:
Applications Available: September
22, 2021.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: October 22, 2021.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: December 21, 2021.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for
obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary
Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019
(84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201902-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shedita Alston, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Room 2B194, Washington, DC 20202–
4260. Telephone: (202) 453–7090.
Email: Shedita.Alston@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
this program is to support a National
Center for Information and Technical
Support for Postsecondary Students
with Disabilities (the Center) to provide
technical assistance and information on
best and promising practices for
students with disabilities as they
transition to or attend postsecondary
education. Institutions of higher
education (IHEs), as well as elementary
and secondary schools, have legal
obligations under two civil rights laws
prohibiting disability discrimination,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (Section 504) (29
U.S.C. 794), and the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended
(ADA) (42 U.S.C. 12101–12213). The
technical assistance and information
provided by the Center can help
students, parents, and educational
officials in determining how to meet
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52653-52654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20510]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
National Nuclear Security Administration Pay and Performance
System
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP)
conversion to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) pay
and performance system.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 52654]]
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense
Authorization Act, the DON announces that the NNPP, a joint activity of
the DON and the Department of Energy (DOE), NNPP will convert from the
General Schedule (GS) Classification and Pay System and the DON Interim
Performance Management System (IPMS) to the NNSA pay and performance
System, also known as the NNSA Demonstration Project. This conversion
will align DON employees of the NNPP with their counterparts in the
DOE, NNSA, and bring parity to the pay and performance systems within
the Nuclear Propulsion workforce.
DATES: This conversion will become effective September 22, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edward Rose, 412-476-7204, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
Headquarters converted to the DoD Civilian Acquisition Workforce
Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo), Naval Reactors chose to opt
out of AcqDemo in anticipation of aligning with the DOE, NNSA
Demonstration Project. Section 3116(a)(3) of the Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA
authorized NNPP to convert its DON employees to the NNSA System with
the concurrence of the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary of the Navy
approved the transition of NNPP's DON civilian personnel to the NNSA
Demonstration Project Personnel Management System on February 5, 2019.
NNPP has been working with the NAVSEA Office of Civilian Human
Resources to promulgate the conversion and plan the implementation
through relevant DON and DoD offices. After providing data and
supporting documentation, the DoD Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory
Service has given approval to commence with the planning and
implementation upon publishing of this notice. The implementation will
require, among other actions, coordination with the DFAS, final notice
to employees, developing NNPP procedures, creating new position
descriptions, and processing pay plan adjustment personnel actions.
The NNSA Demonstration Project was designed by NNSA, with
participation of and review by the DOE and the Office of Personnel
Management. The NNSA Demonstration Project modifies the GS
Classification and Pay System by creating broad career paths,
establishing pay bands within each career path which may cover more
than one GS grade, eliminates longevity-based step progression, and
provides for annual pay adjustments based on performance. The NNPP has
experienced higher-than-average attrition and has had difficulty
filling positions, with pay/grade frequently cited as the reason for
declination by candidates.
As a joint DON/DOE organization, Naval Reactors has historically
managed its civilian workforce under each respective agency's personnel
management system. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 National Defense
Authorization Act states that the Director of the Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (NNPP) may, ``with concurrence of the Secretary of
the Navy,'' apply NNSA DEMO to all non-executive competitive service
employees of the NNPP, thereby strengthening Naval Reactors'
recruitment and retention of the highest-quality technical and
professional workforce. This move aligns with the goal of shifting away
from tenure-based personnel systems to performance-based personnel
management systems while streamlining administrative processes inherent
in managing Naval Reactors' employees under two different systems.
All DON NNPP current GS employees and vacant GS positions will be
converted, excluding any Schedule C excepted service positions. There
are approximately 210 affected positions, with all but about 40 of
those positions located at the Washington Navy Yard. These positions
will remain as DON positions. The NNPP will adopt the NNSA
Demonstration Project Policies and Procedures Manual, dated March 2008,
which will also be used by the servicing Human Resources Office and the
Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) to implement and support the
NNPP. The intent of this notice is to promulgate this conversion to
stakeholders within the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Navy.
Affected employees are not represented by a labor union.
Dated: September 17, 2021.
J.M. Pike,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-20510 Filed 9-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
