[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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