Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/12/20/2011-32525/alternative-personnel-management-system-apms-at-the-national-institute-of-standards-and-technology
Timestamp: 2018-02-17 20:00:42
Document Index: 368071643

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 337', 'art 337', 'art 337', 'art 337', 'art 211', 'art 337', 'art 337']

A Notice by the National Institute of Standards and Technology on 12/20/2011
This notice is effective on December 20, 2011.
78889-78890 (2 pages)
Docket Number: 111208744-1741-01
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-32525 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-32525
This notice informs the public that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is extending for six (6) months beginning on January 5, 2012, its APMS direct-hire authority pilot. NIST will continue piloting direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B for all positions within NIST in the Scientific and Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay Band III and above, for Nuclear Reactor Operator positions in the Scientific and Engineering (ZT) career path at Pay Band III and above, and for all occupations for which there is a special rate under the General Schedule pay system.
Janet Hoffman at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, (301) 975-3185; or Valerie Smith at the U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-0272.
In accordance with Public Law 99-574, the NIST Authorization Act for 1987, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved a demonstration project plan, “Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),” and published the plan in the Federal Register on October 2, 1987. 52 FR 37082. The project plan has been modified twice to clarify certain NIST authorities (54 FR 21331 of May 17, 1989, and 55 FR 39220 of Sept. 25, 1990). The project plan and subsequent amendments were consolidated in the final APMS plan, which became permanent on October 21, 1997, 62 FR 54604. NIST amended the plan on May 6, 2005, 70 FR 23996, which became permanent on June 6, 2005. NIST amended the plan again on July 15, 2008, 73 FR 40502, and that amendment became permanent on October 1, 2008.
On December 3, 2010, the Department of Commerce approved NIST's request to pilot direct-hire under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B, for a period of one year for all positions within the Scientific and Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay Band III and above, for Nuclear Reactor Operator positions in the Scientific and Engineering Technician (ZT) career path at Pay Band III and above, and for all occupations for which there is a special rate under the General Schedule (GS) pay system.
NIST received approval to gather data on the impact of direct-hire authority on preference eligibles, as well as information supporting the finding of a severe shortage of candidates for the positions covered under the direct-hire authority. On January 5, 2011, NIST published a Federal Register notice implementing the direct-hire pilot for a period of one year.
The APMS plan provides for modifications to be made as experience is gained, results are analyzed, and conclusions are reached on how the system is working. This notice formally modifies the APMS plan to align direct-hire procedures with OPM's direct-hire authority on a pilot basis for an additional six months. During this extended pilot period, NIST will be submitting a request to the Department of Commerce to implement direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B, on a permanent basis. The request will include a statistical analysis determining the impact of direct-hire authority on preference eligibles as well as a justification supporting the finding of a severe shortage of candidates in the covered positions. If additional time is required to complete review of NIST's request, the pilot may be extended for an additional six (6) months.
Since implementing the APMS in 1987, according to findings in the Office of Personnel Management's “Summative Evaluation Report National Institute of Standards and Technology Demonstration Project: 1988-1995,” NIST has accomplished the following: NIST is more competitive for talent; NIST retained more top performers than a comparison group; and NIST managers reported significantly more authority to make decisions concerning employee pay. This modification builds on this success by extending the pilot on direct- hire authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B, for a period of six (6) additional months.
This amendment modifies the October 21, 1997 Federal Register notice. Specifically, it enables NIST to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant without regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A for an additional period of six (6) months.
During this extended pilot period, NIST will be submitting a request to the Department of Commerce to implement direct-hire authority under Title 5, CFR, Part 337, Subpart B, on a permanent basis. The request will include a statistical analysis determining the impact of direct-hire authority on preference eligibles as well as a justification supporting the finding of a severe shortage of candidates in the covered positions. If additional time is required to complete review of NIST's request, the pilot may be extended for an additional six (6) months.
Section 3304 (c) of title 5, United States Code, provides agencies with the authority to appoint candidates directly to jobs for which OPM determines that there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need.Start Printed Page 78890
3. The information under the subsection titled: “NIST Applicant Supply File” is replaced with: NIST advertises the availability of job opportunities in Direct-Hire occupations by posting on the OPM USAJOBS Web site. NIST will follow internal Direct Hire procedures for accepting applications.
[FR Doc. 2011-32525 Filed 12-19-11; 8:45 am]