[Federal Register: August 31, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 53141-53143]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au00-161]
[[Page 53141]]
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Part III
Office of Personnel Management
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Science and Technology (S&T) Reinvention Laboratory Personnel
Demonstration Project, Department of the Army, Aviation Research,
Development, and Engineering Center (AVRDEC) and Missile Research,
Development, and Engineering Center (MRDEC); Notice
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Science and Technology (S&T) Reinvention Laboratory Personnel
Demonstration Project, Department of the Army, Aviation Research,
Development, and Engineering Center (AVRDEC) and Missile Research,
Development, and Engineering Center (MRDEC)
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
ACTION: Notice of amendment of the AVRDEC and MRDEC demonstration
project plans to merge the two separate demonstrations into one
project. The resulting project is designated the S&T Reinvention
Laboratory Personnel Demonstration Project at the U.S. Army Aviation &
Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMCOM RDEC).
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SUMMARY: 5 U.S.C. 4703 authorizes OPM to conduct demonstration projects
that experiment with new and different personnel management concepts to
determine whether such changes in policy or procedures will result in
improved Federal personnel management.
Public Law 103-337, October 5, 1994, permits the Department of
Defense (DOD), with the approval of OPM, to carry out personnel
demonstration projects at S&T Reinvention Laboratories. Pursuant to 5
CFR 470.315, this notice amends the AVRDEC and the MRDEC projects to
merge the separate demonstrations into one project.
Both demonstration projects were approved on June 27, 1997 and
implemented on September 28, 1997. The formation of the Army Aviation
and Missile Command (AMCOM), a directed BRAC 95 action, took place on
October 11, 1997. This BRAC action placed both demonstration projects
under the organizational control of AMCOM. The demonstration
organizations (MRDEC and AVRDEC) were not merged at the formation of
AMCOM to avoid excessive personnel turbulence and to ensure continued
customer support during the BRAC transitions.
However, Army planning included the eventual merger of the MRDEC
and AVRDEC after several years of operation. For this reason, the
Federal Register notice for both AVRDEC and MRDEC included the
statement that ``Successor organizations which may result from actions
associated with the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC)
or future Commissions will continue coverage in the demonstration
project.'' Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command Permanent Orders
063-1, dated March 4, 1999, redesignated and reorganized the MRDEC as
the AMCOM RDEC, discontinued the AVRDEC, and merged the AVRDEC with the
AMCOM RDEC.
DATES: This amendment to the AVRDEC and MRDEC demonstration projects
may be implemented beginning on the date of August 31, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
AVRDEC: Mr. David Knepper, Aviation Research, Development, and
Engineering Center, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN:
AMSAM-RD, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama 35898-5000, phone 256-876-1522.
MRDEC: Ms. Lana Hargrove, Missile Research, Development, and
Engineering Center, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN:
AMSAM-RD, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama 35898-5000, phone 256-955-6734.
OPM: Mr. Gary Hacker, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E
Street NW, Room 7458, Washington, DC 20415, phone 202-606-2820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
OPM approved and published the final plans in the Federal Register
for the following S&T Reinvention Laboratory Demonstration Projects:
A. MRDEC final publication on Friday, June 27, 1997, Volume 62,
Number 124, Part IV, page 34876.
B. AVRDEC final publication on Friday, June 27, 1997, Volume 62,
Number 124, Part V, page 34905.
C. AVRDEC correction to the definition of competitive area and
publication on Monday, March 8, 1999, Volume 64, Number 44, page 11074.
D. Publication of an amendment to include competitive examining and
Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Appointment authorities as part of
the AVRDEC and the MRDEC plans. Published in the Federal Register on
Thursday, March 11, 1999, Volume 64, Number 47, page 12216.
The AVRDEC and the MRDEC demonstration projects involve simplified
job classification, pay banding, a performance-based compensation
system, employee development provisions, and modified reduction-in-
force procedures.
2. Overview
This action is in response to a reorganization directed by the U.S.
Army Materiel Command that re-designates the MRDEC as the U.S. Army
Aviation & Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMCOM
RDEC) effective October 1, 2000, and merges the AVRDEC with the newly
established AMCOM RDEC.
Dated: August 24, 2000.
Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.
I. Executive Summary
The Department of the Army designed the personnel demonstration
projects to be generally similar to the system in use at the Navy
personnel demonstration known as China Lake. The projects and this
amendment are built upon the concepts of linking performance to pay for
all covered positions; simplifying the paperwork in the processing of
classification and other personnel actions; emphasizing partnerships
among management, employees, and the union; and delegating authorities
to line managers.
The projects are beneficial to both the AVRDEC and the MRDEC and
will be continued. This conforms with the provision on successorship in
the Federal Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, Number 124, at page
34881, section IIE, and at page 34909, section IID, that states,
``Successor organizations which may result from actions associated with
the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) or future
Commissions will continue coverage in the demonstration project.'' The
consolidation re-designating the MRDEC and merging the AVRDEC with the
new AMCOM RDEC results from 1995 BRAC actions.
II. Introduction
The personnel demonstration at the merged AMCOM RDEC laboratory
will provide its managers the authority, control, and flexibility to
achieve a quality laboratory and quality products. The successor
project will allow the AMCOM RDEC to compete more effectively for high-
quality personnel and strengthen the manager's role in personnel
management.
Basic provisions are unchanged from each of the approved
demonstration projects. Except as described in section III that
follows, provisions of the MRDEC plan will be followed for the
consolidated AMCOM RDEC project.
Employee notification will be made by delivery of a copy of this
notice. Training for supervisors and employees will be accomplished
along with implementation.
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III. Specific Provisions
A. Participating Organization
The AMCOM RDEC will have approximately 1,953 employees covered by
the project, approximately 1,502 from the MRDEC and approximately 451
from the AVRDEC. The majority of the employees are located at Redstone
Arsenal, Alabama, with the remaining employees located at Fort Rucker,
Alabama; Mesa, Arizona; Moffett Field, California; Eglin Air Force
Base, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Andover, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas;
Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Eustis, Virginia; Hampton,
Virginia; and Washington, DC.
B. Occupational Series by Occupational Family
The AVRDEC has the following occupational series that will be added
to those in Appendix A of the MRDEC final plan pursuant to the merged
project.
Engineers & Scientists
0180 Psychologist Series (Engineering Research Psychologist,
Engineering Psychologist)
0801 General Engineer (Human Factors Engineer)
Technical and Business Support
0018 Safety & Occupational Health Management
0510 Accounting
0905 General Attorney
1035 Public Affairs
1060 Photography
1071 Audio Visual Production
1084 Visual Information
1103 Industrial Property Management Specialist
1601 General Facilities & Equipment
2181 Aircraft Operation
General Support
0525 Accounting Technician
1105 Purchasing
2102 Transportation Clerk and Assistant
C. Labor Participation
Former AVRDEC and former MRDEC employees are currently represented
as stated in the Federal Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, Number
124, at page 34881, section IIF. (The term MRDEC is replaced with the
term AMCOM RDEC.) Currently, no union represents AMCOM RDEC employees
at the Fort Eustis and Langley, Virginia, geographic locations.
D. Performance-Based Actions
Former AVRDEC and former MRDEC employees are currently covered by
the provisions in the Federal Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62,
Number 124, at pages 34885 and 34886 for this topic.
E. Calculation of Performance Pay Pool Funds
The AMCOM RDEC Management of Operations and Business Office, in
consultation with the union(s) representing AMCOM employees covered by
this demonstration project, will calculate the total performance pay
pool funds and allocate them to pay pools or teams as appropriate. This
allocation, approved by the Executive Director, will be achieved early
in the annual performance appraisal cycle. These provisions replace the
last paragraph of section IIIB (Performance Pay Pool) in the Federal
Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, Number 124, at page 34887.
F. Competitive Areas
All positions included in the demonstration project at a specific
geographic location will be considered a separate competitive area
(exception: positions at Fort Eustis and Hampton (NASA-Langley),
Virginia will be combined into one competitive area).
[FR Doc. 00-22319 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
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