[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16808-16809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9406]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Notice
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, Employment and Training
Administration (DOL/ETA) is moving to the next phase of development of
O*NET, the Occupational Information Network. Accordingly DOL/ETA is: 1.
soliciting applications from State governments for O*NET facilitation
grants; 2. requesting proposals from small business concerns for the
provision of technical assistance to facilitate the implementation and
integration of the O*NET Prototype in State employment and training
systems, particularly to the States selected to receive facilitation
grants; and 3. announcing the qualified release of the developmental
prototype of O*NET for testing and evaluation purposes. These actions
are in response to broad public anticipation of the availability of the
O*NET and are designed to encourage significant, entrepreneurial,
business and public sector participation in the development of
innovative workforce development tools for the marketplace using the
O*NET Database and Prototype.
BACKGROUND: O*NET is a multi-year project to develop an automated
replacement for the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). O*NET is
replacing the DOT with a relational database that contains
comprehensive, skills-based information about worker requirements and
characteristics, experience requirements and occupational requirements
and characteristics. The O*NET content model offers a common language
and a standardized framework of information for consistent use across
all occupational and industrial sectors. O*NET can identify broadly
transferable skills by utilizing a variety of cross-job descriptors
that organize job-specific information into broad, empirically-based
occupational clusters.
The Employment and Training Administration is nearing completion of
the first phase of development of the O*NET Database and Prototype. The
O*NET Database has been developed on an industry standard, flexible and
user-friendly open platform. It is comprised of 11 separate databases
of O*NET content model descriptor information all related by the O*NET
occupational code. Files provide mean ratings for all available content
model constructs in .dbf file format. The O*NET Database is designed
for maximum utility to researchers and career information software
developers and vendors.
The O*NET Prototype is a basic application of the O*NET Database.
The prototype incorporates a user interface designed to acquaint users
with variables in the database, and facilitate access to O*NET's data
fields. It will allow users to browse the database, learn about
occupations, crosswalk O*NET information to other occupational
classification structures, search for and select occupations and
variables, match occupations to predefined criteria, and export data in
various file formats. The O*NET Prototype is designed for broad, non-
technical employment, training, and general workforce development
program usage.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lorraine Saunders and Mr. Willie
Harris, U.S. Department of Labor, Division of Acquisition and
Assistance, Room No. S-4203, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20210. Telephone No. (202) 219-8698 (This is not a toll-free
number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Solicitation for State Grant Applications
During April 1996, DOL/ETA will solicit applications for O*NET
Facilitation Grants. State governments are eligible applicants. Four to
five grants will be awarded. Grant awards will be made no later than
June 30,
[[Page 16809]]
1996. The grant awardees will be responsible for: 1. establishing
collaborative relationships among workforce development program, system
and software providers; 2. integrating the O*NET Prototype into State
and local employment, training and human resource development programs;
and 3. implementing O*NET as the driving engine for the development of
career and occupational information applications meeting business and
education and training program users' needs.
B. Request for Proposals
During April 1996, DOL/ETA will request proposals to facilitate the
implementation and integration of the O*NET Prototype in State
employment and training systems. Small business concerns are eligible
applicants. One contract will be awarded. Contract award date will be
no later than June 30, 1996. The contract awardee will be responsible
for: linking current O*NET research and development work to workforce
development program, systems and software development; providing
technical assistance as necessary to refine and enhance the current
O*NET Prototype as a flexible, user-friendly platform for applications
development; and developing and providing technical assistance and
staff support to a user group of employment, training, and human
resource development systems involved in O*NET implementation and
integration.
C. Qualified Release of O*NET
During the Fall of 1996, DOL/ETA is planning a qualified release of
a developmental version of the O*NET Database and Prototype, as
completed at that point in time, to users, developers and vendors for
purposes of evaluation, testing, building and enhancement. DOL/ETA is
planning to license users, developers and vendors for participation in
a program supporting continued O*NET development. Participants may
choose from a menu of options likely to include: review, comment, and
critique of the content and functionality of the Database and
Prototype; validation of Database content; building the Database
through contribution of occupational information; and/or further
development and enhancement of the Prototype through application
development. Participants are advised that the O*NET Database and
Prototype may undergo substantial changes in design, content and format
after the date of its release, and DOL/ETA makes no representations of
similarity or compatibility with later versions. DOL/ETA is in the
process of determining licensing issues, participation options and fees
that may be charged for participation. Further details will be made
available as plans for this program develop.
Dated: April 11, 1996.
Raymond J. Uhalde,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-9406 Filed 4-16-96; 8:45 am]
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