[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 60495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20800]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory Personnel 
Management Demonstration Project, Department of the Air Force, Air 
Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

AGENCY: Department of Defense; Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of 
Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy).

ACTION: Notice of amendment of the demonstration project plan.

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SUMMARY: The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995, 
as amended by section 1114 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2001, authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct 
personnel demonstration projects at Department of Defense (DoD) 
laboratories designated as Science and Technology (S&T) Reinvention 
Laboratories. The above-cited legislation authorizes DoD to conduct 
demonstration projects that experiment with new and different personnel 
management concepts to determine whether such changes in personnel 
policy or procedures would result in improved Federal personnel 
management.
    This amendment revises the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) 
demonstration project plan by changing from 180 days to 90 calendar 
days the amount of time required to be assessed under the Contribution-
based Compensation System (CCS).

DATES: This amendment to the demonstration project may be implemented 
beginning on the date of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: AFRL: Ms. Michelle Williams, AFRL/DPL, 
1981 Monahan Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433-5209. DoD: Ms. 
Patricia M. Stewart, CPMS-AF, 1400 Key Boulevard, Suite B-200, 
Arlington, VA 22209-5144.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    The final plan was published in the Federal Register for the S&T 
Reinvention Laboratory personnel Management Demonstration Project at 
AFRL (Wednesday, November 27, 1996, Volume 61, Number 230, Part V, page 
60400). An amendment to the final plan was published in the Federal 
Register as follows: To clarify which employees are subject to the 
extended probationary period; provide the contribution-based 
compensation system (CCS) bonus to eligible employees subject to the 
GS-15, step 10 pay cap; and change the name of broadband level 
descriptor ``Cooperation and Supervision'' and CCS Factor 6 
``Cooperation and Supervision'' to ``Teamwork and Leadership'' (Friday, 
January 21, 2000, Volume 65, Number 14, Part I, page 3498).
    This demonstration project involves simplified job classification, 
two types of appointment authorities, an extended probationary period, 
pay banding, and CCS.

2. Overview

    This amendment changes from 180 to 90 calendar days the amount of 
time required to be assessed under CCS. Experience has revealed that 
180 days is unduly long and unnecessary for effective employee 
assessments under CCS.

I. Executive Summary

    The Department of the Air Force established the AFRL personnel 
demonstration project to be generally similar to the system in use at 
the Department of the Navy personnel demonstration project known as 
China Lake. The AFRL demonstration project was built upon the concepts 
of a contribution-based compensation system, two appointing 
authorities, extended probationary period, simplified classification 
procedures delegated to the AFRL Commander, and pay banding.

II. Introduction

A. Purpose
    The AFRL demonstration project provides managers, at the lowest 
practical level, the authority and flexibility needed to achieve a 
quality laboratory and quality products. the purpose of this amendment 
is to change the time an employee must be covered under the 
demonstration project from 180 to 90 calendar days in order to be 
assessed under CCS. Other basic provisions of the approved AFRL project 
plan are unchanged.
B. Employee Notification and Collective Bargaining Requirements
    Employees affected by this amendment will be provided a copy of 
this notice. Participating organizations must fulfill any collective 
bargaining obligations to unions that represent employees covered by 
the demonstration.

III. Personnel System Changes

    The AFRL demonstration project plan is amended as follows: Change 
section III.D.3., The CCS Assessment Process, (61 FR 60414) paragraph 
5, second sentence to read: ``If on October 1, the employee has served 
under CCS for less than 90 calendar days during the annual assessment 
cycle, the supervisor will wait for the subsequent annual cycle to 
assess the employee. Periods of approved, paid leave will be counted 
toward the 90-day time period.''

    Dated: October 12, 2005.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 05-20800 Filed 10-17-05; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M