Vision
For DOE to be a technically proficient enterprise, with federal technical personnel overseeing Defense Nuclear Facilities in a manner that enables and enhances the DOE mission in a technically defensible fashion, while being recognized as preeminent in federal technical leadership and competency.
Missions and Functions
The Department of Energy is committed to developing and maintaining a technically competent workforce to accomplish its missions in a safe and efficient manner. The Federal Technical Capability Program (FTCP) provides for the recruitment, deployment, development, and retention of Federal personnel with the demonstrated technical capability to safely accomplish the Department's mission and responsibilities.
The Department has identified guiding principles to accomplish that objective and identified four general functions of the Federal Technical Capability Program. The guiding principles and general functions are identified in DOE O 426.1.
The Federal Technical Capability Panel (Panel) is responsible for overseeing the overall implementation of the Federal Technical Capability Program. Headquarters and field elements are responsible for implementing specific activities within the program. Some activities addressing technical capability functions apply complex-wide; for example, the Department's Policies, Orders, and Standards, which promulgate requirements and guidelines for the administration of technical training. Other mechanisms vary from site to site or between program offices. For example, in implementing an Order directed at developing the technical capabilities of its workforce, each field office and Headquarters program office develops and implements a program that meets the complex-wide requirements defined in the Order. However, the offices are then free to customize implementation details to meet the needs defined by line management at each site or program office.
The principles of the FTCP are the following:
- As stated in the Department's Integrated Safety Management Guiding Principles: Federal personnel possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to discharge their safety responsibilities;
- Line managers are accountable and have the responsibility, authority, and flexibility to achieve and maintain technical excellence
- Supporting organizations (personnel, training, contracts, finance, etc.) recognize line managers as customers and effectively support them in achieving and maintaining technical capabilities.
- An integrated corporate approach is required to assure that necessary technical capabilities and resources are available to meet the overall needs of the Department's defense nuclear facility missions.