[Material transmitted]{.underline}

Delegations of Authority to Approve and Acquire Training (pages

1-3)

[Material superseded]{.underline}

HHS Instruction 410-1, Exhibit 41O-1-A, Delegation of Authority to
Approve and Authorize Training, HHS Transmittal 89.14 (pages A-1 - A-6,
dated 7/27/89)

HHS Instruction 410-1, Exhibit 41O-1-B, Delegation of Authority to
Acquire Training, HHS Transmittal 89.7 (pages B-1 - B-5, dated 3/20/89)

HHS Instruction 410-2, Long-Term Training, HHS Transmittal 83.35 (pages
1-8, dated 12/9/83)

HHS Instruction 410-3, Intergovernmental Training, HHS Transmittal 83.27
(pages 1-3, dated 11/2/83)

HHS Instruction 411-1, Supervisory Development, HHS Transmittal 82.17
(pages 1-4, dated 8/13/82)

HHS Circular 412-1, Executive, Management, and Supervisory Development
(pages 1-11 and Exhibit 412-1-A, expired February 1, 1992)

[Background]{.underline}

On March 30, 1994, legislation was signed which included amendments to
the Government Employees Training Act (GETA). The amendments provide
greater flexibility to train employees to meet the organization\'s
mission. The Federal Personnel Manual (FPM) chapters on training were
eliminated with the FPM sunset.

Until OPM issues a new Code of Federal Relations for training, ASPER
will not replace the existing HHS training policy (Instruction 410-1,
management of training programs). However, the changes in GETA take
precedence over the corresponding sections in the current 410-1 policy
(OGC opinion, 7/15/94).

With the GETA changes and the new delegations (see below), other
Department policies are no longer relevant. Therefore, I am deleting the
following HHS training instructions: 410-2 (long-term training), 410-3
(intergovernmental training), and 411-1 (supervisory development). These
deletions are effective as of the date of this memorandum. Circular
412-1 (executive, management, and supervisory development) expired on
February 1, 1992, and is not being replaced.

ASPER is issuing new delegations of training authority consistent with
the decentralization of authority envisioned by the National Performance
Review. The new delegations flow directly to each OPDIV, allowing
redelegation in a way that best suits management

needs. Personnel and training officers will not be in the approval chain
unless they have that authority delegated to them.

ASPER is keeping only the authority to approve and acquire training
which we manage for the Department.

In reissuing the delegations, I am combining authorities to approve and
authorize training into a single \"approval\" authority. OPDIVs may,
however, achieve the effect of a split authority by requiring training
officers or other subject matter experts to concur with a training
nomination prior to its approval. Authorities to approve and to acquire
training are

separate authorities and may be delegated to different individuals.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Thomas S. McFee

Assistant Secretary for

Personnel Administration

Distribution: MS (PERS): HRFC-001

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Memorandum**

Date MAR 30, 1996

From Assistant Secretary for

Personnel Administration

Subject Delegations of Authority to Approve and Acquire Training

To OPDIV Heads

Inspector General

Under the authority vested in the Assistant Secretary for Personnel
Administration by memorandum from the Secretary dated January 24, 1983,
I delegate the authority to approve training and to acquire training as
specified below. These delegations are effective as of the date of this
memorandum.

These delegations supersede the ASPER delegation memoranda of July 27,
1989 (Delegation of Authority to Approve and Authorize Training), and
January 10, 1991 (Delegation of Authority to

Acquire Training). Existing redelegations of authority will remain in
effect until superseded by new redelegations.

The following definitions are used in this delegation:

[Approval Authority]{.underline} is the authority to provide employees
with training as a means of enhancing individual or group performance
which contributes to the organization\'s mission. Approval

authority includes the authority to: assess training needs; select
employees for training; manage and provide training within the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. Chapter 41; ensure that the training conforms to
relevant laws, regulations, and Department and component requirements;
and assess the effectiveness of training.

[Acquisition Authority]{.underline} is the authority to acquire
off-the-shelf training for individual employees or groups of employees
under the authority of the Government Employees Training Act.

[Off-the-Shelf Training]{.underline} is training whose standard features
and costs are established in catalogs or other printed material
available to the general public, or training offered by an individual
consultant or firm where standard features and costs are established
based on past practices. Costs of off-the-shelf training do not include
employee travel or development of training material.

[Delegations of Authority]{.underline}

1\. The authority to approve and acquire training under the Government
Employees Training Act, and to carry out all other training functions,
within the limitations stated below, is delegated to the officials
specified below for the areas indicated. The areas include personnel in
or under a regional office.

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [To Whom Delegated]{.underline}   | [Area of Authority]{.underline}   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assistant Secretary for Aging     | Administration on Aging           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assistant Secretary for           | Administration for Children       |
|                                   |                                   |
| Children and Families             | and Families                      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Administrator, Health Care        | Health Care Financing             |
|                                   |                                   |
| Financing Administration          | Administration                    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Inspector General                 | Office of the Inspector           |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | General                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assistant Secretary for           | Public Health Service             |
|                                   |                                   |
| Health                            |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assistant Secretary for           | Office of the Secretary           |
|                                   |                                   |
| Management and Budget             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

2\. The officials listed in paragraph one above are delegated the
authority to establish, for their areas of authority, the minimum amount
of training for which a written continuing service agreement is
required. Each OPDIV must establish procedures for waiver of recovery of
training expenses when continuing service agreements are not completed,
in accordance with 5 C.F.R. Ch. 1 (410.509).

3\. These authorities may be redelegate.

4\. Officials acquiring training under the authority of the Government
Employees Training Act must have been delegated authority under that
Act. The dollar limit and guidelines for micropurchases established by
the Office of Management and Budget apply to training acquired under the
GETA. Each OPDIV must establish procedures to ensure accountability for
the expenditure of funds under this authority.

5\. Each acquisition must have the signature of at least two individuals
with appropriately delegated authority. At least one of these
individuals must have delegated acquisition authority under the
Government Employees Training Act.

6\. The authority to approve and acquire Department-wide training which
is managed by the Assistant Secretary for Personnel Administration is
retained.

Thomas S. McFee