ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURT

S

Salaries and Expense

s

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT REQUIREMENT

S

Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appro

priation 

Fiscal Year 2021 Appro

priation Re

quest 

 Re

quested Increase from Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appro

priation 

APPROPRIATION LANGUAG

E

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURT

S

SALARIES AND EXPENSE

S

(P.L. 116-93 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020)

For necessary expenses of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts as authorized

by law, including travel as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1345, hire of a passenger motor vehicle as

authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1343(b), advertising and rent in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, [$94,261,000]$99,812,000, of which not to exceed $8,500 is authorized for official reception and 
Fiscal Year 2021 Resource Requirements:

Page F

  

 

 

 Reimbursable Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services:

 A. Personnel

 Pay and benefit adjustments

8.14 

8.14 8.14 8.148.14 8.15 8.15 8.15 

 Fee carryforward from FY 2019 into FY 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2. Annualization of January 2020 pay adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 4. Benefits increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS

Fiscal Year 2020 Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FISCAL YEAR 2021

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 Estimated FY 2020 fee collections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Carryforward from Judiciary Information Technology Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 3. Promotions and within-grade increases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 a. Health benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 5. One less compensable day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 c. FERS adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 b. FICA adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 1. Proposed January 2021 pay adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page F

B. Other Adjustments

8.15 

 

Total Current Services Appropriation Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Program Increases:

8.15 8.16 8.17 8.17 

 

 

 

Financing the Fiscal Year 2021 Request:

F

 

8.18 

8.18

8.18 Reimbursable programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.19 Contractor Conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

 10. AO Internal Control Self-Assessment Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 6. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services, supplies, and equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total Appropriation Increase, Fiscal Year 2020 to Fiscal Year 2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Total Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriation Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 Subtotal, Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 7 . Expand Office of Judicial Integrity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8. Procurement Reforms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. Corrective Actions Oversight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .`Estimated Obligations, Fiscal Year 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...Estimated fee carryforward from FY 2020 into FY 2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total Appropriation Required. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Estimated FY 2021 fee collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Obligations by Activity ($000)

Activity

Program Direction and Policy Formulation 79,324 85,958 

Program Services 40,622 46,332 Administrative Services 49,663 54,717 Technology Services 40,368 46,845 Total Obligations 209,977 233,852 

Unobligated Balance, Start of Year: Judiciary Information Technology Fund (3,646) (4,009) 

Deposits and Other Adjustments: (4,009) - 

 Judiciary Information Technology FundUnobligated Balance, End of Year: 4,009 - 

 Judiciary Information Technology Fund

Subtotal, Other Obligations (3,646) (4,009) 

Direct Obligations 206,331 229,843 

Offsetting Collections Federal Funds (21,594) (23,770) 

 Reimbursable Programs (92,324) (111,812) 

 Salaries and Expenses (75,323) (88,752) 

 Electronic Public Access (10,583) (14,422) 

 Defender Services (4,805) (6,735) 

 Court Security (1,613) (1,903) 

Available Appropriation $92,413 $94,261 

 FY 2019 Actual FY 2020 Assumed FY 202
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Obligations by Budget Object Class ($000)

Description FY 

1100 Personnel compensation 146,426 164,047 

1200 Personnel benefits 47,050 54,704 

1300 Benefits for former personnel 40 23 

2100 Travel 1,737 2,066 

2200 Transportation of things 111 138 

2330 Communications, utilities, & misc 470 673 

2400 Printing and reproduction 100 186 

2500 Other services 4,364 5,424 

2600 Supplies and materials 459 1,113 

3100 Equipment 1,605 1,469 

4200 Claims 300 - 

9100 Undefined Disbursements (JITF Deposit) 3,669 - 

Direct Obligations 206,331 229,843 

Other Obligations (JITF Obligations) 3,646 4,009 

Total Obligations 209,977 233,852 

FY 2019 Actual FY 2020 Assumed
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Full-Time Equivalents by Activity

Activity FY 2019 Actual FY 2020 Assumed FY 2021 R

Program Direction and Policy  Formulation 194 207 

Program Services 304 332 

Administrative Services 355 400 

Technology Services 279 315 

Total, Full-Time Equivalents 1,132 1,254 

Less: Reimbursable Positions (514) (632) 

 Salaries and Expenses 413 514 

 Electronic Public Access 64 75 

 Defender Services 28 34 

 Court Security 9 9 

Total, Direct Full-Time Equivalents 618 622 
Direct obligations incurred 206,331 229,843 240,495

Obligated balance, unpaid obligations, start of year 12,944 13,127 14,623Adjustments of prior year activity 1,736 1,934 2,023Obligated balance, unpaid obligations, end of year (13,127) (14,623) (15,300)

Total Outlays 207,884 230,281 241,840

Less Offsets (116,986) (135,582) (140,683)

Net Outlays 90,898 94,699 101,157

FY 2019 

Actual

FY 2020 

Assumed

FY 2021 

Request

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Relation of Direct Obligations to Outlays ($000)
GENERAL STATEMENT AND INFORMATION 

This appropriation is for the necessary expenses of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO), p§§ 601-613. Created by an Act of Congress in 1939, the AO is the central support entity for the judicial branch. serves the federal judiciary in carrying out its constitutional mission to provide equal justice under the law. The 

request for the AO account totals $99,812,000 to support staff and operating expenses at a current services level increases to expand the Office of Judicial Integrity and strengthen procurement, compliance, and internal controlThe AO provides administrative, legal, financial, management, program, security, and information technology se

courts and federal defender offices. It provides support and staff counsel to the Judicial Conference of the United 

committees, and it implements Judicial Conference policies as well as applicable federal statutes and regulations

responsibility for communication and coordination within the judiciary and with Congress, the executive branch, 

behalf of the judiciary. The AO’s lawyers, court administrators, accountants, systems engineers, analysts, architesecurity experts, and other staff provide professional services to meet the needs of judges and staff working in th

federal defender offices nationwide. These services include: ▸ performing central payroll, personnel, accounting, and procurement functions; ▸ developing and executing the judiciary’s budget and guiding local court and federal defender budget exec▸ collecting and analyzing statistics on court and federal defender workload; ▸ auditing judiciary financial operations; ▸ monitoring and reviewing program performance and use of resources; ▸ developing and supporting automated systems and technologies used throughout the courts and federal de▸ coordinating construction and management of court facilities with the General Services Administration (G

▸ monitoring U.S. Marshals Service implementation of the Judicial Facility Security Program; 

▸ defining court and federal defender resource needs through caseload forecasts and work measurement ana▸ providing program leadership and support for circuit executives, clerks of court, probation and pretrial se

federal defenders, and other managers; and 

▸ developing and conducting education and training programs focused on improving court administration a
The AO’s vision is to be the “best service organization and the best place to work in the federal government with 

qualified, and diverse team.” The AO’s Strategic Direction, updated in 2017, communicates the mission, vision, AO, and includes specific goals that the AO will pursue in the next few years. The Strategic Direction reinforces 

enhancing services to the judiciary; strengthening relationships both within and outside the judiciary; sharing infeffectively; improving systems and processes; and developing and retaining a high-performing, diverse, and engaAmong the stated goals are protecting the security of judiciary assets, supporting judiciary cost containment, and accountability and internal controls. The AO works at implementing its vision through measuring and respondin

feedback. In November 2019, the AO conducted its third employee viewpoint survey, administered by the OfficManagement. Past survey results (2015, 2017) have been valuable in benchmarking results to other agencies and positive change to the AO’s workplace, informing recruitment and retention strategies, increasing training opporimproving internal communications. A table of selected workload indicators for the AO follows: Table 8.1 Selected AO Fiscal Year 2020 Projected Workload Indicators 

Indicators Active and senior judges (Article III, bankruptcy, magistrate, and Court of Federal Claims) Court staff (Appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation, and pretrial services) and public defender staff Court units (Appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial services) Federal defender organizations (Districts) Court facilities (GSA- and U. S. Postal Service-owned federal buildings and leased facilities) Judicial Conference committees Court appropriations and fees (Salaries and Expenses, Defender Services, Fees of Jurors, Court Security, and Judicial Retirement Funds) 

FY 2020 APPROPRIATIONS 

The judiciary built the FY 2021 budget request for the AO on the FY 2020 enacted appropriation, which is $94,2

maintains current services in FY 2020. For bill language, the judiciary used the language from P.L. 116-93, Fina

General Government Appropriations Act, 2020. 
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES 

Workplace Conduct In January 2018, at the direction of the Chief Justice, the Director of the AO established a working group to evalustandards of conduct and procedures for investigating and correcting inappropriate workplace conduct. In June 2

group made more than 30 recommendations to improve the judiciary’s policies and procedures and achieve the C

“ensure an exemplary workplace for every judge and every court employee.” Its recommendations included adoworkplace conduct policies; offering additional avenues to report misconduct; and providing more workplace conJudicial Conference, the AO, and the Federal Judicial Center have acted on the recommendations. These actions following: 

(1) The Judicial Conference, in March 2019, approved revisions to the Codes of Conduct for United State

of Conduct for Judicial Employees, and the Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Procee

expressly that sexual and other discriminatory harassment, abusive conduct, and retaliation are cognizis the failure to report misconduct to the chief district or chief circuit judge; 

(2) The Director of the AO appointed a chief of the newly created Office of Judicial Integrity and that off

providing confidential advice and guidance since January 2019; 

(3) Many federal circuits and courts have established workplace conduct committees and created director

relations to provide circuit-wide guidance and oversight of workplace conduct matters; 

(4) The Federal Judicial Center has provided nationwide training on workplace civility, diversity and incl

harassment; and 

(5) The Judicial Conference, in September 2019, approved a revised and simplified Model Employment D

(EDR) Plan that clearly states that harassment, discrimination, abusive conduct, and retaliation are prooptions for employees to report and seek redress for wrongful conduct; and ensures that judiciary empresources available to them. 

The AO’s Office of Judicial Integrity serves as an independent resource where current and former judiciary emplphone or email – counseling, guidance, and intervention regarding sexual and other harassment, abusive conduct

other workplace misconduct. The AO seeks $364,000 in additional funding in FY 2021 (see page 8.15) to expan

additional staff beyond the judicial integrity officer. 
Contractor Conversions The AO has continued its re-assessment of functions performed by AO contractors and is currently implementing contractor conversions. This process began in 2012 as part of the AO’s cost-containment efforts. The goal of cois to improve project/program management by adjusting the ratio of federal employees to contractors and ensurin

supervision of contract operations as well as to reduce costs by converting more expensive contractor positions to 

government staff. As part of the second round of contractor conversions, 37 judiciary contractors were converted A third round of contractor conversions began in FY 2019. In total, this third round is estimated to include 114 c

expected to be completed in FY 2020. This third round of contractor conversions will result in cumulative annuamillion in the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Salaries and Expenses (S&E) acco

S&E because the contractor services being replaced were funded by the S&E appropriation). A total of $4.3 milincluded in the judiciary’s FY 2019 and FY 2020 budget requests. A reduction of $900,000 (to reflect the remain

included in the FY 2021 S&E appropriation request. Additional contractor conversions beyond the 114 are possiand the judiciary will advise appropriations subcommittee staffs of any changes to these estimates. Consolidated Financial Statement Initiative The judiciary plans to begin a new, multi-year financial management initiative – the Judiciary Data Integrity, Rep

Program (JDIRC) in FY 2020. If the judiciary’s assumed FY 2020 financial plan is approved, this initiative will judiciary’s foundation of strong financial management practices and robust internal controls. Ultimately, this prothe judiciary submitting a consolidated, audited financial statement to the Treasury Department that is compliant 

Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or other comaccounting. Existing judiciary financial processes, internal control evaluations and financial systems were not deassertion to and the production of consolidated, auditable financial statements on an annual basis. More informainitiative can be found in the Salaries and Expenses narrative, page 4.23. 
AO SUPPORT OF THE JUDICIARY (INCLUDING COST CONTAINMENT) 

The AO supports a number of key national initiatives in the federal courts to strengthen accountability, improve increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Many of the initiatives and projects completed during FY 2019, or being imreflect the application of information technology solutions to court operations and systems enhancements to imprcontainment continues to be a high priority of the judiciary, and AO staff supporting the Judicial Conference and 

heavily involved in these efforts. The AO’s work to support the judiciary and its cost-containment efforts are su

Effective Space Management: Now that the judiciary has met and surpassed its three percent space reduction g

implement a “No Net New” space management policy and a requirement that each circuit have a plan for implemreduction. Ten No Net New projects approved in FY 2019 are expected to reduce the judiciary’s space footprint feet. Further, the judiciary’s Service Validation Initiative is a cooperative effort of the AO, the courts, and GSA 

derived from the judiciary’s space rental payments. Emergency Preparedness: AO managers comprising the Judiciary Emergency Response Team worked closely GSA, and other federal partners to help restore and sustain operations during several hurricane, typhoon, wildfire

incidents. In FY 2019, the AO began deployment of a geospatial information management system to monitor coemergencies, identifying hazards, assessing a disaster’s impact, and enabling faster recovery and restoration of oNext Generation Case Management: With AO implementation teams and court staff members, the judiciary csignificant upgrade to its digital case management system known as NextGen Case Management/Electronic Case 

the end of 2019, 68 courts of appeals, district courts, and bankruptcy courts were live. Implementation for the re

be conducted in quarterly waves, with approximately 15 courts in each wave. The last wave (Wave 12) is scheduJanuary 2021. Criminal Justice Act Review Recommendations: At its September 2018 and March 2019 sessions, the Judiciaapproved 29 of 35 interim recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Criminal Justice Act (CJAmodifications. The committee was created by the Chief Justice to provide a comprehensive review of the federasystem, the first in over 20 years. The AO has supported implementation of the approved recommendations, whiCJA administration. The Judicial Conference deferred considering the recommendation to establish an independ

Commission within the judiciary pending further review. 
Cybersecurity: The judiciary relies on multiple layers of defenses to protect its networks and information. Durfocused special emphasis on: 

(1) adding new features to the judiciary firewall service deployed in 2018 to protect the data communicat

vulnerability protection blocks, spyware blocks, and antivirus blocks; (2) providing an endpoint privilege management solution for court units to manage staff with elevated prihigher risk of infection from cyberattacks; (3) deploying a patch and asset management solution to enable courts to automate patching of critical secdesktops, laptops, and servers; and (4) improving the utility of the national logging service adopted in 2018 which provides data to flag poten

Work Measurement Formulas: The AO completed work on, and the Judicial Conference approved, updated stthe courts of appeals and circuit offices, based on work measurement data from 1,700 judiciary personnel. 

Probation and Pretrial Services Officers’ Wellness and Safety: To help combat officer stress and serious saf

working with probation and pretrial services offices, determined that officers need additional resources to preparto stressful situations that they routinely encounter while carrying out their official duties. The AO developed elmodules focused on officer wellness; hosted the first nationwide wellness conference; and plans to form a Wellnthat will focus on physical, mental, and emotional well-being of officers. 

Continued Operations During FY 2019 Appropriations Lapse: On December 21, 2018, the judiciary, along 

the federal government, began an unprecedented period of 35 days with a lapse in appropriations. As a result of 

and communication effort by the AO in coordination with the courts and federal defender organizations, the judicmaintain paid operations throughout the entire lapse period and continue providing critical services without inter

Implementing the First Step Act of 2018: The First Step Act of 2018, P.L. 115-391, has made the most signifiU.S. criminal justice system in recent years. The legislation reduces mandatory minimum sentencing for certain 

the Department of Justice (DOJ) to create and implement a system of risk and needs assessment and recidivism rearly release of thousands of inmates to the community via prerelease custody or supervised release. The AO is the DOJ and U.S. Sentencing Commission to address these changes and to ensure that the new law is being imple
JUSTIFICATION OF CHANGESThe Administrative Office appropriation request for FY 2021 totals $99,812,000. This represents an increase of $5,551,000, or 5.9 percent, over the FY 2020 enacted appropriation of $94,261,000. The FY 2021 budget request includes funds needed to maintain current services and program increases to expand the Office of Judicial Integrity and strengthen procurement, compliance, and internal controls. Adjustments to base to maintain current services include funding for salaries and benefits increases for staff and increased costs for recurring requirements, such as travel, communications, service agreements, and supplies. A. PERSONNEL 

Pay and Benefit Adjustments 1. Proposed January 2021 pay adjustment 

Requested Increase: $810,000The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 1.0 

percent in January 2021. The requested increase provides for the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2021, from January 2021 to September 2021. (If, ultimately, the pay adjustment included in the President’s FY 2021 budget request is different than 1.0 percent, the judiciary will revise this line item in its FY 2021 budget re-estimate.) 

2. Annualization of January 2

Requested Increase: $947,000

The requested increase provides for the ann2020 pay adjustment for the Employment Clocality pay. Based on FY 2020 appropriatpay rates increased by an average of 3.1 per

January 2020. The requested increase prov

three months (from October 2020 to Decem2020 pay increase in FY 2021.  3. Promotions and within-graRequested Increase: $832,000 The requested increase provides for promotincreases for AO personnel to recognize ou

promote staff development, thereby fosterinrecruit and retain a highly professional and 

 4. Benefits increases 

a. Health benefits 

Requested Increase: $180,000 Based on information from the Office of Peagency health benefit premium contributionincrease by an average of 3.2 percent both iJanuary 2021. The requested increase annupremium increase and includes a nine-mont
increase anticipated for FY 2021. 

b. FICA adjustment 

Requested Increase: $110,000 Based on information from the Social Security Administration, employer contributions to the Old Age, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) portion of the FICA tax will increase in 2020. The salary cap for OASDI increased from $132,900 to $137,700 in January 2020. The requested amount is needed to pay the agency contribution in FY 2021. 

c. FERS adjustment 

Requested Increase: $1,225,000 Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, funds are requested for an increase in the agency contribution rate to Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) plans for FY 2021. For most employees, the agency contribution rate will increase from 16.0 percent to 17.3 percent. Any FERS increase is in accordance with revised estimates of the cost of providing benefits by the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System. 

 5. One less compensable day Requested Decrease: ($409,000) There is one less compensable day in FY 20The requested amount decreases personnel benefits associated with one less compensa

paid employees. B. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

6. Inflationary increases in ch

services, supplies, and equi

Requested Increase: $192,000 Consistent with guidance from the Office oBudget, the requested increase is required tadjustments of 2.0 percent for operating exp

communications, printing, contractual servimaterials, and furniture and equipment. PROGRAM INCREASES 

7. Expand Office of Judicial I

Requested Increase: $364,000 This request provides for the salaries, beneftwo staff (2.0 FTE) to expand the Office of beyond the judicial integrity officer, who wDecember 2018. Establishing this office fu

significant recommendations from the Fede
Workplace Conduct Working Group, formed in January 2018 at the direction of the Chief Justice. The goal was to “ensure an exemplary workplace for every judge and every court employee.” The new office provides guidance and assistance regarding workplace conduct to all judiciary employees through telephone and email. The office serves as an independent source of information and referral, answering individuals’ questions and providing guidance on conflict resolution, mediation, and formal complaint options. It identifies trends and conducts systemic analyses and reviews, provides training throughout the judiciary, and serves as a resource for workplace conduct staff throughout the court system. In addition, the Office of Judicial Integrity provides advice, guidance, and training to all court employees, managers, and judges about the Model Employment Dispute Resolution Plan, which is the administrative claims process used 

by judicial employees to assert discrimination or harassment claims or any violation of the other employment laws made applicable to judiciary employees through the Plan. The office also gathers and analyzes employment dispute resolution claims data from courts nationwide. 

8. Procurement Reforms 

Requested Increase: $1,092,000 FTE: 6.5The AO seeks to continually improve its procurement and contract management processes, spearheaded via new procurement reforms. Important work remains to move the judiciary towards more robust performance-based contracts that 

yield the best value for the government. Horesources cannot support staffing requireme

that are critical to realizing these improvemnew positions (6.5 FTE) at a first-year cost requested to address these needs. This program increase has four componentscontracting officer (CO) to contracting offic(COR) interactions are a hallmark of organiacquisition programs. Contracting Officer individuals authorized by a contracting offispecific contract management and oversighan estimated 177 current or potential CORsBased on current staffing levels, the AO’s PManagement Division (PMD) does not havdedicated to training and certifying CORs, 

COs to effectively monitor and proactively provide proper contract oversight to ensure 

and efficiently spent and that the judiciary rmeasure of the products and services purchneed, seven additional staff (3.5 FTE) are rePolicy and Training Branch and six contraceach of PMD’s three operational branches)Second, the AO is committed to improving gathering and pre-award functions. As a cocertification program for post-award procurdescribed above (i.e., COR certification), thimprove its training and certification progra
staff that covers pre-award procurement functions (e.g., market 

research and technical evaluations). This pre-award capability will help lead to better procurement and contract management processes. One additional position (0.5 FTE) is requested in the Policy and Training Branch dedicated to training and certification in the pre-award functions. Third, PMD has no staff dedicated to work on standardization in contracting nor on associated internal training and development of the operational contracting staff. Standardization will reduce variability in the procurement function leading to increased predictability for program offices and contractors and also will reduce procurement lead time by streamlining internal reviews and decision-making. Strengthening standardization in the AO’s procurement processes and improving contractor officer decision-making will improve the efficiency and transparency of the procurement function. Developing and implementing a set of more robust and refined procurement practices is critical to improving the AO’s procurement outcomes. One additional position (0.5 FTE) is requested in the Policy and Training Branch to meet this requirement. Fourth, improving contract management practices at the AO through the plan explained above will also require that the AO departments served by PMD have adequate staffing to implement these improvements. An additional four staff (2.0 FTE) are requested to strengthen procurement in the three AO departments 

and the executive offices (including the DeOffice). 

9. Corrective Actions Oversig

Requested Increase: $97,000 To further strengthen and enhance the AO’environment, the AO plans to establish a COfficer to assess risk across the agency and findings from audits and reviews. A new p

the oversight and monitoring of corrective aadditional support position (0.5 FTE) at a fi

$97,000 is requested. 

10. AO Internal Control Self-A

Requested Increase: $111,000 The AO has helped the courts and federal p

implement an internal control evaluation prcombined with self-assessment tool softwarto evaluate compliance with internal controinitiative is underway at the AO, and an AO training position (0.5 FTE) at a first-year corequested to staff this initiative. The positiotraining and support to AO departments and conducting internal control self-assessment

organizational requirements. A fully operacontrols program is critical to the success o
with strengthened judiciary and AO internal controls supporting judiciary-wide consolidated financial statements. FINANCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 REQUESTEstimated Fiscal Year 2021 Fee CollectionsEstimated Funds Available: $11,129,000The judiciary has authority to collect fees for various services such as bankruptcy filing, civil filing, bankruptcy noticing, and registry administration. These fees are used to reimburse judiciary appropriations and are available without fiscal year limitation. The judiciary estimates that $11.1 million of new fee collections will be available to offset the AO’s FY 2021 budget request. The judiciary will advise appropriations subcommittee staffs of any changes to this estimate. Estimated fee carryforward from Fiscal Year 2020 into Fiscal Year 2021 Estimated funds available: $9,211,000In addition to receiving a portion of new fee collections, the AO account also receives a portion of the fee balances carried over from prior years. This request reflects funds from existing carryforward balances in the judiciary fee accounts that the judiciary estimates will be available to offset the AO’s FY 2021 budget request. The judiciary will advise appropriations subcommittee staffs of any changes to this estimate.

Reimbursable Programs Funds Available: $118,092,000 Requested Increase: $6,280,000 Beginning in 1990, Congress authorized reithe AO to carry out specific support functio

These functions include: background check

management improvement, Central Violatioautomation, court financial administration, systems, court investment services, court se

services audit and assessment, defender serElectronic Public Access services, Federal PServices Academy, financial disclosure, jud

work measurement. The request for the AO reimbursable prografor 651 FTEs from the Salaries and Expensand Court Security appropriations under Co

District Courts, and Other Judicial Servicesnecessary to maintain a sufficient AO reimbto fulfill core court and defender support rethe court security program, and continue to and support automated systems and technolThese systems include network and telepho

management/electronic case files systems thdistrict, and bankruptcy courts and probatio
offices; and financial management systems that ensure sound financial practices and internal controls. The FY 2021 obligation level requested for the AO’s reimbursable program totals $118,092,000, a net increase of $6,280,000 from the projected FY 2020 obligation level of $111,812,000. The FY 2021 request includes $3,231,000 in net adjustments to base for inflationary increases in salaries, benefits, and other expenses. The FY 2021 request also includes two additional FTE and $239,000 to support the annualization of six positions for implementation of the SharePoint Online collaboration and communication platform in the courts’ Salaries and Expenses account. Also within the Salaries and Expenses account, eleven additional FTE (22 positions) and an additional $2,211,000 are requested to support the implementation of the Judiciary Data Integrity, Reporting, and Controls (JDIRC) program in the courts. This is based on the assumption that this program will be initiated in FY 2020 within the base with $843,000 to hire 7 positions (3.5 FTE). These positions will be annualized in FY 2021 (3.5 additional FTE), and 15 new positions (7.5 FTE) will be required in FY 2021. (For more information on JDIRC, see the Salaries and Expenses chapter, page 4.23) Within the Defender Services account, the FY 2021 request includes a program increase of $599,000 for the first-year cost of eight new positions (four FTE) as well as two additional FTE for the annualization of four new reimbursable positions in FY 2020. 

These positions are funded by the Defender appropriation and are for program operation

support. These staff include a branch chief

review analysts, and two data analytics stafOperations Division; a supervisory attorney analyst for the Training Division; and four 

workload demands associated with financia

management, program operations, training, 

CJA-related policies approved by the Judic

increase is further explained in the Defende

page 5.28. Contractor Conversions Requested Increase: $2,251,000 As explained above, the AO continues to im

round of contractor conversions. In FY 201occurred and, at this time, 52 conversions a

in FY 2020. Thus, this round will result in 

judiciary staff being hired by the end of FY 

and $2,251,000 in increased reimbursable rannualize the 52 contractor conversions pla

Contractor conversions decrease contractinCourts of Appeals, District Courts, and Oth

Salaries and Expenses appropriation while 

AO reimbursable staff. In total, however, tsavings of $5.2 million after all 114 third roconversions are completed.