[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12525-12528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4731]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    This notice amends Part K of the Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) 
as follows: Chapter KP, the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Administration (ODASA), previously amended on October 6, 1999, (64 
FR 54330) and January 2, 1998, (63 FR 81). This notice reflects the 
restructuring of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration.
    This Chapter is amended as follows:
1. Chapter KP, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration
    a. Delete KP.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KP.10 Organization. The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Administration is headed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary who 
reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The 
Office is organized as follows:
    <bullet> Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration (KPA)
    <bullet> Office of Information Services (KPB)
    <bullet> Office of Financial Services (KPC)
    <bullet> Office of Organizational Development Services (KPD)
    <bullet> Office of Customer Service and Administration (KPE)
    <bullet> Executive Secretariat Office (KPG)
    <bullet> Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Staff (KPH)
    <bullet> Office of Administrative Services and Facilities 
Management (KPL)
    b. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph A, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    KP.20 Functions. A. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration (ODASA) directs and coordinates all administrative 
activities for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration serves as ACF's: Chief 
Financial Officer; Chief Grants Management Officer; Federal Manager's 
Financial Integrity Act Management Control Officer; Principal 
Information Resource Management Official serving as Chief Information 
Officer; Deputy Ethics Counselor; Personnel Security Representative; 
and Reports Clearance Officer. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration serves as the ACF liaison to the Office of the General 
Counsel and, as appropriate, initiates action in securing resolution of 
legal matters relating to management of the agency, and represents the 
Assistant Secretary on all administrative litigation matters.
    The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration provides day-to-
day executive leadership and direction to the Equal Employment 
Opportunity and Civil Rights Staff; Executive Secretariat Office; 
Office of Administrative Services and Facilities Management; Office of 
Customer Service and Administration; Office of Financial Services; 
Office of Information Services; Office of Organizational Development 
Services; and Office of State Systems Policy. The Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Administration represents the Assistant Secretary in HHS 
and with other Federal agencies and task forces in defining objectives 
and priorities, and in coordinating activities associated with 
reinvention and continuous improvement initiatives.
    c. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph B, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    B. The Office of Information Services (OIS) provides centralized 
information technology policy, procedures, standards and guidelines. 
The OIS Director serves as the Deputy Chief Information Officer, 
supporting the Chief Information Officer in the full range of 
activities required to carry out ACF's information technology (IT) and 
information resource management (IRM) programs. The Office provides 
liaison with OMB, GSA, and GAO on all IT and IRM matters and manages 
major interdepartmental IRM initiatives. It directs and coordinates 
ACF's Privacy Act responsibilities. The Office coordinates mandated OMB 
information collection approvals and plans. It directs and maintains 
ACF records and forms management programs. OIS develops long-range IRM 
plans; develops IRM policy, procurement plans and budgets for ACF 
information systems. The Office develops and implements procurement 
strategies for ADP support services. OIS reviews and analyzes all ADP 
acquisition documentation for compliance with applicable laws and 
regulations as well as for procurement strategy. It coordinates 
technical assistance provided to program offices on ADP support 
services procurements. The Office develops, recommends and implements 
ACF-wide policies, procedures, standards and guidelines concerning 
electronic government (e-government). It oversees the implementation of 
e-government policies through leadership and coordination with ACF 
program and staff offices. OIS serves as the ACF liaison with the 
Department and other federal and non-federal agencies to coordinate 
strategies and polices relative to staff development and training and 
e-government activities. The Office develops training policy and plans 
for ACF.
    It provides leadership in directing and managing agency-wide staff 
development and training activities for ACF. OIS is responsible for the 
functional management of all information technology and software 
training, common needs training, and management training in the agency, 
including policy development,

[[Page 12526]]

guidance, technical assistance and evaluation of all aspects of career, 
employee, supervisory, management and executive training. The Office 
provides leadership in managing/overseeing and monitoring the ACF 
Training Resource Center and the Computer Training and Information 
Centers. The Office develops and manages the consolidated training 
budget for the Agency.
    OIS plans, manages, maintains and operates ACF's local area 
networks, national wide area network and personal computers; provides 
for equipment and software acquisition, maintenance and user support 
for end-user computing; and manages and maintains a Help Desk for ACF 
users. OIS develops and implements policies and plans for and acquires 
and manages data communications services; provides liaison with HHS, 
GSA and private firms on data communications matters; and provides 
assistance to ACF components to identify needs for and the use of data 
communications equipment and systems.
    OIS designs, develops, implements and maintains application systems 
to support ACF budget, program and administrative systems. The Office 
provides technical assistance to ACF program offices procuring system 
support services; provides technical assistance on automated systems to 
state and local agencies who are users of ACF's computer systems; 
develops software policy, procedures, standards and guidelines and 
conducts major information system reviews of ADP systems as required by 
the Department.
    OIS designs, develops, and maintains system support for e-
government activities; provides technical assistance to ACF program 
offices for e-government support services; and provides technical 
assistance on e-government systems to state and local agencies.
    OIS establishes, implements, maintains and oversees an IT security 
program that assures adequate security is provided for all agency 
information collected, processed, transmitted, stored or disseminated 
in general support systems and applications. The Office develops and 
implements agency-wide policies, standards and procedures consistent 
with government-wide IT security policies; conducts the ACF system 
security activities required by OMB IT security directives; develops, 
implements and maintains a security training plan for IT professionals; 
and provides security awareness training for all ACF staff.
    d. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph C, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    C. The Office of Financial Services (OFS) supports the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Administration in fulfilling ACF's Chief 
Financial Officer (CFO), Management Control Officer, and Chief Grants 
Management Officer responsibilities including preparation of the CFO 5-
Year Plan; performs audit oversight and liaison activities, including 
preparing reports to Congress, Office of the General Counsel and the 
Office of the Inspector General. OFS writes/interprets financial policy 
and researches appropriation law issues; oversees and coordinates ACF's 
Federal Manager's Financial Integrity Act activities; performs debt 
management functions; develops and administers quality assurance, 
training and certification programs for grants management; and is 
responsible for the annual preparation and audit of ACF's financial 
statement requirements. It develops/interprets internal policies and 
procedures for ACF components and coordinates the management of ACF's 
interagency agreement activities.
    The Office provides agency-wide guidance to program and regional 
office staff on grant related issues; including developing and 
interpreting financial and grants policy, coordinating strategic grants 
planning, facilitating policy advisory groups, and assuring consistent 
grant program announcements. The Office prepares, coordinates and 
disseminates action transmittals, information memoranda, and other 
policy guidance on financial and grants management issues; provides 
financial and grants administration technical assistance to ACF staff 
and grantees; directs and/or coordinates management initiatives to 
improve financial administration of ACF mandatory and discretionary 
grant programs. OFS develops and administers grants management training 
for ACF program and grants staff and administers grants management 
certification for ACF grants staff.
    OFS is responsible for developing departmental policies and 
procedures under which States obtain Federal financial participation in 
the cost of automated systems development to support programs funded 
under the Social Security Act. It serves as the departmental focal 
point and coordinator for the development and implementation of 
strategies and policies related to payment integrity, welfare systems 
integration, electronic benefit transfer and related initiatives and 
programs; and provides leadership and guidance to interagency work 
groups in these areas for the Department.
    The Office provides policy guidance, management leadership and 
coordination regarding the optimum inter-operation of the multitude of 
complex Federal, State, local, tribal and private information 
technology systems used to carry out ACF programs. OFS provides 
leadership and coordination in the areas of systems assessments, 
systems design and planning, systems integration, data exchanges, 
information management, information security and electronic information 
exchanges. The Office leads ACF activities associated with business 
continuity contingency planning and with information technology 
partnership planning which occurs between ACF and its program partners.
    e. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph D, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    D. The Office of Organizational Development Services (ODS) advises 
the Assistant organizational analysis and development including: 
delegations of authority; planning for new organizational elements; and 
planning, organizing and performing studies, analyses and evaluations 
related to structural, functional and organizational issues, problems 
and policies to ensure organizational effectiveness. The Office 
administers ACF's system for review, approval and documentation of 
delegations of authority. The Office provides technical assistance and 
guidance to ACF offices on intra-component organizational proposals and 
is responsible for development and/or review of inter-component 
organizational proposals. The Office develops policies and procedures 
for implementing organizational development activities and provides 
leadership of assigned ACF special initiatives arising from 
Departmental, federal and non-federal directives to improve service 
delivery to customers and to enhance employee work environment. The 
Office manages and administers ACF's Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) 
Program and other programs impacting the employee work environment, 
including developing and providing guidance, policies and procedures 
for ACF offices and serving as liaison with the Department and other 
federal agencies for coordination of strategies and processes for the 
ADR and other assigned programs.
    The Office coordinates assigned agency-wide management initiatives 
that include: coordination and implementation of the HHS and ACF 
employee work life program; administrative guidance and support to

[[Page 12527]]

the HHS and ACF Labor-Management Partnership Councils and other 
assigned Workgroups; and coordination of Departmental and other 
employee surveys. The Office provides guidance to ACF program/staff/
regional offices in developing strategies for implementation of 
initiatives; seeks counsel and advice from the Department and other 
federal agencies; and develops evaluation instruments to measure the 
success of ACF initiatives. The Office manages and coordinates 
designated incentive awards programs.
    f. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph E, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    E. The Office of Customer Service and Administration (OCSA) advises 
the Assistant Secretary, through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration, on human resource management for ACF; and provides 
direction, leadership and management of the internal administrative 
activities of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration.
    OCSA provides leadership, direction and oversight for human 
resource management services provided to ACF through a contract and 
supplemental memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the Program Support 
Center (PSC).
    OCSA, in collaboration and coordination with the PSC, provides 
advice and assistance to ACF managers in their personnel management 
activities, including recruitment, selection, position management, 
performance management, designated performance and incentive awards and 
employee assistance programs and other services to ACF employees. OCSA 
provides management, direction and oversight of the following personnel 
administrative services: the exercise of appointing authority, position 
classification, awards authorization, performance management 
evaluation, personnel action processing and record keeping, merit 
promotion, special hiring and placement programs. OCSA serves as 
liaison between ACF, the Department and the Office of Personnel 
Management. It provides technical advice and assistance on personnel 
policy, regulations and laws. OCSA formulates and interprets policies 
pertaining to existing personnel administration and management matters 
and formulates and interprets new human resource programs and 
strategies.
    OCSA, in collaboration and coordination with the PSC, provides 
oversight and management advisory services on all ACF labor management 
and employee relations issues. The Office plans and coordinates ACF 
employee relations and labor relations activities, including the 
application and interpretation of the Federal Labor Management 
Relations Program, collective bargaining agreements, disciplinary and 
adverse action regulations and appeals. OCSA participates in the 
formulation and implementation of policies, practices and matters 
affecting bargaining unit employees' working conditions by assuring 
management's compliance with the Federal Labor Relations Program (5 
U.S.C. Chapter 71). The Office maintains oversight, leadership and 
direction of the labor-management and employee relations services 
provided under contract with the PSC.
    OCSA is responsible for formulation, planning, analysis and 
development of ACF human resource policies and programs, workforce 
planning, retirement and benefits counseling and liaison functions to 
the Department on ACF payroll matters.
    OCSA formulates and oversees the implementation of ACF-wide 
policies, regulations and procedures concerning all aspects of the 
Senior Executive Service (SES), and SES-equivalent recruitment, 
staffing, position establishment, compensation, award, performance 
management and related personnel areas. The Office manages the ACF SES 
performance recognition systems and provides services for functions of 
the Executive Secretary to the Executive Resources Board and the 
Performance Review Board.
    OCSA coordinates Schedule C and executive personnel activity with 
the Office of the Secretary and is the focal point for data, reports 
and analyses relating to Schedule C, SES and Executive-level personnel.
    OCSA administers the ACF Ethics Program, the Personnel Security 
Program and the Drug Testing Program in coordination with the 
Department's Office of Government Ethics, the Office of General Counsel 
and the Office of Security and Drug Testing.
    OCSA provides direction in meeting the human resource management 
needs within ODASA. The Office is responsible for providing leadership, 
guidance, oversight and liaison functions for ODASA personnel related 
issues and activities as well as other administrative functions within 
ODASA. OCSA coordinates with the Department to provide ODASA staff with 
personnel services including position management, performance 
management, employee recognition, staffing, recruitment, employee and 
labor relations, employee assistance, payroll liaison, staff 
development and training, and special hiring and placement programs. 
OCSA develops and maintains systems to track personnel actions to keep 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and OA Office 
Directors informed about the status of personnel actions, employee 
programs, services and benefits.
    g. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph F, in its entirety.
    h. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph G, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    G. The Executive Secretariat Office (ExecSec) ensures that issues 
requiring the attention of the Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant 
Secretaries and/or executive staff are addressed on a timely and 
coordinated basis and facilitates decisions on matters requiring 
immediate action including White House, Congressional and Secretarial 
assignments. The Office serves as the ACF liaison with the HHS 
Executive Secretariat. It receives, assesses and controls incoming 
correspondence and assignments to the appropriate ACF component(s) for 
response and action and provides assistance and advice to ACF staff on 
the development of responses to correspondence. The Office provides 
assistance to ACF staff on the use of the controlled correspondence 
system. The Office coordinates and/or prepares congressional 
correspondence; and tracks development of periodic reports and 
facilitates departmental clearances. The Director of the Executive 
Secretariat Office serves as the Freedom of Information Act Officer for 
ACF and coordinates hot line calls received by the Office of Inspector 
General and the General Accounting Office relating to ACF operations 
and personnel.
    i. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph H, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    H. The Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Staff (EEOCRS) 
serves as the principal advisor, through the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Administration, to the Assistant Secretary on all aspects of the 
Agency Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights program.
    The Staff serves as the liaison between ACF and the HHS Office for 
Civil Rights. The Staff directs and manages the ACF Equal Employment 
Opportunity and Civil Rights program in accordance with Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations and HHS 
guidelines. The immediate oversight is provided by a staff under the 
direction of the ACF EEO Officer. The Staff plans, develops and 
evaluates programs and procedures designed to identify and eliminate

[[Page 12528]]

discrimination in employment, training, incentive awards, promotion and 
career opportunities. They are responsible for implementing and 
evaluating a cost-effective, timely and impartial system for processing 
individual complaints of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, as amended. The Staff provides information, 
guidance, advice and technical assistance to ACF supervisors and 
managers on affirmative employment planning and other means of 
achieving parity and promoting work force diversity. The Staff is 
responsible for ensuring that ACF-conducted programs do not 
discriminate against recipients on the basis of race, color, national 
origin, age or disability. The Staff monitors and implements civil 
rights compliance actions under Title VI, Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and the Age Discrimination Act 
of 1975, as amended. The Staff implements the applicable provisions of 
the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.
    j. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph L, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    L. The Office of Administrative Services and Facilities Management 
(OASFM) directs and manages ACF's administrative support services, and 
facilities management programs and activities.
    The Office provides, prepares, coordinates and disseminates 
information, policy and procedural guidance on administrative and 
facilities management issues on an agency-wide basis. It directs and/or 
coordinates management initiatives to improve ACF administrative and 
facilities management services with the goal of continually improving 
services while containing costs.
    OASFM maintains budgetary controls on administrative services 
accounts, reconciling accounting reports and invoices, and monitoring 
all spending. The Office controls credit card for small purchases on 
behalf of the Agency. OASFM establishes and manages contracts and/or 
blanket purchase agreements for administrative support and facilities 
management services, including space design, building alteration and 
repair, telecommunications, reprographics, physical security, moving, 
labor, property management and inventory, systems furniture 
acquisitions and assembly, and fleet management.
    The Office provides management and oversight of ACF mail delivery 
services and activities, including Federal and contractor postal 
services nationwide, covering all classes of U.S. Postal Service mail, 
priority and express mail services, and courier services, etc.
    OASFM directs all activities associated with the ACF Master Housing 
Plan, including coordination and development of the agency long-range 
space budget; planning, budgeting, identification, solicitation, 
acceptance and utilization of office and special purpose space, 
repairs, and alterations; serving as principal liaison with GSA and 
other Federal agencies, building managers and facilities engineers, 
architects and commercial representatives, for space acquisition, 
negotiation of lease terms, dealing with sensitive issues such as 
handicapped barriers, space shortages, and security. It develops and 
maintains space floor plans and inventories, directory boards, and 
locator signs. OASFM serves as the lead for ACF in coordination and 
liaison with Departmental, GSA, Federal Protective Service, and other 
Federal agencies on implementation of federal physical security 
directives. The Office is responsible for planning and executing the 
Agency's environmental health, safety and physical security programs, 
ensuring that appropriate occupational health and safety and occupant 
emergency evacuation plans are in place. It serves as principal liaison 
with private and/or Federal building managers for all administrative 
services and facilities management activities. The Office is 
responsible for issuing, managing and controlling badge and cardkey 
systems to control access to agency space for security purposes.
    OASFM develops and/or implements agency telecommunications 
management policy in accordance with Federal regulations and 
procedures. The Office reviews and directs payment of agency telephone 
invoices. It recommends and advises on the design and function of 
telecommunications systems, based on user needs, costs and 
technological availability. OASFM communicates directly with private 
industry service providers to coordinate the acquisition, installation 
and maintenance of voice/data telecommunications equipment and systems. 
It is responsible for other sources of communications capability such 
as pagers, cellular phone service, cable TV service, and audio 
conferencing equipment and service. It updates and maintains the ACF 
LAN-based telephone directory, handles the distribution of all 
commercial directories and updates and maintains the databases for 
telephone lines and equipment inventories.
    OASFM plans, manages/operates employee transportation programs, 
including shuttle service and fleet management; employee and visitor 
parking; and commuter services and programs including transit subsidies 
and ridesharing. The Office develops and implements ACF travel policies 
and procedures consistent with Federal requirements. The Office 
provides technical assistance and oversight; coordinates ACF use of the 
Travel Management System; manages employee participation in the Travel 
Charge Card program, and coordinates Travel Management Center services 
for ACF. OASFM purchases and tracks common use supplies, stationery and 
publications. It plans and manages reprographic services.
    The Office develops and implements policies and procedures for the 
ACF Personal Property Management Program, including managing the ACF 
Personal Property Inventory, and other personal property activities.

    Dated: February 21, 2001.
Elizabeth M. James Duke,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-4731 Filed 2-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P